The nine justices of the Supreme Court and other federal judges are nominated by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate.  All federal judges and justices of the Supreme court are appointed for life.  They may be removed from office only through the process of impeachment.  

The Supreme Court deals with original jurisdiction for cases involving diplomatic representatives of other nations, disputes between states and federal government or the Constitution of the United States.  The Supreme Court is located in Washington, DC  There is no jury, only the nine justices. 

 
The nine justices of the Supreme court: Seated: Scalia, Stevens, Rehnquist, O'Connor, and Kennedy. Standing: Ginsburg, Souter, Thomas, and Breyer. 

The court works from October through June, and cases are heard Monday through Thursday. On Friday the justices discuss votes on cases heard that week.  The court will sit for two weeks to hear cases and then recess for two weeks to investigate the details, write reports, and make decisions on cases.  Five out of the nine justices must agree for a decision to become final. 

Below are landmark cases decided upon by the Supreme Court that continue to define our culture and ways of dealing with race, separation of church and state, treatment of criminals and abortion rights. 

Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka , Kansas  (1954) 
 An eight year old black girl was not allowed to attend her local school because of her race.  Her father sued the schools and they won, which started the desegregation of public schools. 

Engel vs. Vitale (1962) 
 The reading of the Bible and saying prayers in Public schools is unconstitutional because all people do not believe in the Christian religion. 

Miranda vs. Arizona (1966) 
 Police must advise suspects of their rights before they arrest or question them. 

Roe vs. Wade (1973) 
 States may not prohibit a woman from having an abortion in the first three months. 
 

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Related topics: 

The American Government 

The Constitution of the United States 

The Norwegian legal system 

The Hong Kong legal system 

The Chinese legal system 
 
 
Sandra Day O’Connor
Sandra Day O’Connor was the first woman ever appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court.  She was named to the Supreme Court in 1981 by President Ronald Reagan. She has opened the doors for woman at all levels of the legal profession.