Supreme Court Reflection

The Supreme Court is the most powerful judicial power in the world.

Watching a documentary about the U.S. Supreme Court gave me a new appreciation for how much influence the Court has on American government.

One point that stood out was the claim that the Supreme Court is the most powerful judicial body on Earth. The Court's decisions help define the boundaries of government power, making its role much larger than simply settling disputes.

The documentary also highlighted the Court's early history. When John Marshall became Chief Justice in 1801, the Supreme Court was housed in the unfinished Capitol building. His Court established a major precedent in Marbury v. Madison by striking down an act of Congress as unconstitutional.

That decision helped the Court earn respect as a co-equal branch of government.

Not every chapter in the Court's history has been positive, however. The documentary described the Dred Scott decision as a great self-inflicted wound, showing how damaging certain rulings can be to the Court's reputation.

I was surprised to learn that the Supreme Court receives roughly 100 new cases every week, adding up to about 7,000 each year. Despite having law clerks and support staff, the justices are ultimately responsible for their own decisions.

The Court reviews whether lower courts have properly upheld the law and whether laws themselves are constitutional. I also learned that a denial of certiorari does not imply any decision about the merits of a case.

Another fact I did not know is that Supreme Court cases are argued in a public courtroom. Oral arguments play a major role, and the ability to present a persuasive argument can be just as important as the written filings.

The actual vote takes place privately among the justices. Majority opinions, concurring opinions, and other written opinions can influence the law through compromise and evolving viewpoints before being released to the press.

My biggest takeaway is that the Supreme Court's authority ultimately depends on public trust. As the documentary emphasized, the power of the Court is equal to the trust it has earned from the American people.