U. S. Judicial System

Federal Court System: Supreme Court

U.S. Supreme Court:

- Only court mentioned in the U.S. Constitution

- No building or building site set aside in original D.C. plans

- 9 Justices (as few as 5; as many as 10 historically)

- Justice John Roberts is the current Chief Justice (17th)

- Serve for life

- Appointed by the President

- Usually sits “en banc”

- Roughly 10,000 certiorari requests received annually

* Court grants “cert” to roughly 75-80 cases/year

* Full written decisions in roughly 50-60 cases/year

Supreme Court Jurisdiction

Original jurisdiction per Article III, Section 2:

• Foreign Diplomats
• State vs. State
• State vs. U.S./U.S. vs. State
• Foreign country vs. State/State vs. Foreign country
• Foreign country vs. U.S./U.S. vs. Foreign country (added later)

This Constitutional original jurisdiction has evolved be

original, non-exclusive, non-concurrent jurisdiction.

Now exclusively a court of law.

Chief Justice’s Powers

• Presides in open court and in conferences
• Speaks first, speaks last
• Sets the agenda
• Votes last
• Assigns the opinion writing duties if votes with the majority
• Circulates a list of “cert denied” suggestions without conference discussion. Takes 4 votes to remove the case from the list and be heard.

Chief Justice’s Powers…continued

• Determines the order in which cases are heard
• Determines the split when sit in division
• Determines which cases will be heard by which group when sitting in division
• Appointed for life (real power in government is longevity in office, ala a King)
• Serves as the judge in Presidential impeachment trials
• Paid more than the other Justices!

Federal Court System: Judicial Officer Salaries

• Chief Justice - $277,700
• Associate Supreme Court Justices - $265,600
• Appellate Court Judges - $229,500
• District Court Judges - $216,400
• U.S. Magistrates - $166,134