Supreme Court Videos Blog Post 1

Watching the Supreme Court videos definitely broadened the scope of what I already knew. First and foremost, the Supreme Court must begin with a case, a written petition asking the Supreme Court to act. Only nine justices review petitions from lawyers, prisoners, and others. All petitions are given equal consideration. I didn't realize the judicial branch was so powerful. It's interesting that it takes new members three to five years to get used to it, out of their sixteen-year term.

The 1803 Marbury v. Madison case gave the court a lot of respect and value as a co-equal branch of government. "It is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is" -John Marshall, Marbury V. Madison (1803). 

One of the most debated issues in American history is the case of Dred Scott, who claimed his freedom under the Congress Act. After the war, the Constitution was amended to abolish slavery. 

 I was amazed to learn that there are 7,000 cases per year. Newly arrived petitions are sent to the justices just once a week. I learned that each justice is responsible for deciding each case with very little assistance. Also, a cool fact that I learned is that before every meeting, each justice shakes each other's hand.

A huge point that was made was that there is no inside story of the court. The experience of being in a courtroom is truly awe-inspiring and remarkable. In the video, a gentleman discusses the feeling of being in the courtroom with the nine justices and how the feeling of tension disappears. 

After all of the action in the courtroom takes place, the nine justices go to a conference room alone to vote and decide the case. One justice from the majority must write a binding opinion for future cases. Additionally, I learned in the videos that the justice can switch sides and that the majority sometimes becomes the minority. 

Having watched these videos, I am truly impressed by the intricate process and hard work that is involved in the functioning of the Supreme Court. I now hold the system in high regard and appreciate the benefits it offers to the American people.