Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court is the highest court in the federal judiciary and the final arbiter of constitutional questions. Its decisions are binding on all other courts and establish precedents that shape American law.
Composition
Nine Justices
The Court consists of the Chief Justice of the United States and eight Associate Justices. Congress sets the number of justices; it has been nine since 1869.
Lifetime Tenure
Justices serve “during good Behaviour,” effectively for life. They can only be removed through impeachment by the House and conviction by the Senate.
Appointment Process
- A vacancy occurs through death, retirement, or resignation
- The President nominates a candidate
- The Senate Judiciary Committee holds confirmation hearings
- The full Senate votes on confirmation (simple majority required)
- The confirmed justice takes the judicial oath
There are no constitutional requirements for Supreme Court justices—no age, citizenship, or legal experience requirements. By tradition, all justices have been lawyers.
Jurisdiction
Original Jurisdiction
The Court has original jurisdiction (hears cases first) in disputes between states, cases involving ambassadors, and cases where a state is a party. These cases are rare.
Appellate Jurisdiction
The vast majority of cases reach the Court on appeal. The Court has discretionary review and chooses which cases to hear through the “writ of certiorari” process.
How Cases Are Decided
Certiorari
The Court receives approximately 7,000-8,000 petitions per year but only hears about 100-150 cases. Four justices must vote to hear a case (“Rule of Four”).
Oral Arguments
Each side typically gets 30 minutes to present their case. Justices frequently interrupt with questions. Arguments are open to the public.
Conference and Opinions
Justices meet privately to discuss and vote on cases. The senior justice in the majority assigns who writes the opinion. Dissenting justices may write separate opinions.
The Supreme Court Term
The Court's term begins the first Monday in October and typically runs through late June or early July. Oral arguments are held October through April, and opinions are usually released from late May through the end of June.