The Supreme Court

Composed of nine justices with lifetime appointments, the Supreme Court is not just a final destination in the legal system but the driving force behind many changes in American life. Whether they are ending segregation or overturning past decisions, their rulings can completely reshape American life and cause long-lasting impact. If you are not paying attention to the Supreme Court, you are disregarding the one part of the American government that does not need to campaign to impact your future. 

The Court receives thousands of petitions each year but only hears roughly 100-150 cases and can pick which cases they review.  The Supreme Court is the most powerful judicial body, whose power is outlined in the US Constitution. The Court is tasked with protecting liberties and rights, as well as ensuring that all of the other branches of government adhere to the values and power limitations set forth by the framers. That being said, the Court's legitimacy stems from the endowed to them by the citizens of the country. 

What I learned about the SCOTUS

Before watching the video about the Supreme Court, I knew baseline information about their role and responsibilities. However, I gained much more knowledge about how the Court carries out those responsibilities. For example, I was surprised to learn that each justice reads and decides cases completely on their own before they make their overall ruling. Before learning more, I had assumed that the justices only decided after conversing and debating with one another. Additionally, I was both shocked and elated to learn that despite the vast number of petitions it receives, the Court carefully considers each petition individually, regardless of who it is sent in by.

The most important aspect of the Supreme Court

One of the most important components of the Supreme Court is the impartiality of the justices. Despite being appointed to the Court by the president, justices are supposed to be non-partisan and apolitical. This is to prevent partisan bias from affecting their rulings. However, I question whether anyone can truly be completely impartial. With the constant presence of media and political content in our lives, it's nearly impossible to avoid forming opinions that lean either liberal or conservative. Additionally, if justices are apolitical, how does a president, a political actor, choose who they want on the Court? I would assume that they would want to choose someone who sees the world the same way that they do. This raises the question of whether or not a system created by political actors can produce apolitical justices. 

My takeaways 

Learning more about the Supreme Court has made me realize how powerful and, most importantly, how complex the Court is. The Court can make decisions, such as Brown v. Board of Education, that completely restructure and reshape the way that Americans live and interact with one another. I also now have a deeper understanding of how the SCOTUS reaches its decisions and the work and time that goes into each ruling. Lastly, I acknowledge the complexity, difficulty, and importance of impartiality within the Court. Citizens need to stay engaged with the Court, especially in the coming years, no matter how small, indirect, or invisible the decision may seem.