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SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES

"Equal Justice Under Law." These words, written above the main entrance to the Supreme Court Building, express the ultimate responsibility of the Supreme Court of the United States. The U.S. Supreme Court is the highest tribunal in the nation for all cases and controversies arising under the Constitution or the laws of the United States. The complex role of the Supreme Court in this system derives from its authority to invalidate legislation or executive actions which, in the Court's considered judgment, conflict with the Constitution. As the final arbiter of the law, the Court is charged with ensuring the American people the promise of equal justice under law, and thereby, also functions as guardian and interpreter of the Constitution.

The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land and is located in Washington, D.C. It is comprised of a Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices. The President nominates justices with the advice and consent of the Senate. Justices serve for life.

Initially, The Court was made up of one Chief Justice and five Associate Justices. The number of Associate Justices grew to eventually reach, in an Act of March 3, 1863, ten, which was subsequently reduced to 8 as vacancies would appear to avoid President Andrew Johnson's reconstruction from entering into the hallowed Court. That number eventually was set at the current number of eight Associate Justices.

The Court's location has changed several times, from the Congressional buildings in New York, to Philadelphia, and finally to Washington, D.C. The Court has its own building across the street from the Capitol.

A "term" of the Supreme Court begins on the first Monday in October. Usually Court sessions continue until late June or early July. The term is divided between "sittings," when the Justices hear cases and deliver opinions, and intervening "recesses," when they consider the business before the Court and write opinions. Sittings and recesses alternate at approximately two-week intervals during a term.

In order for a case to be heard by the Supreme Court, a Writ of Certiorari must be filed. This document requests that the Supreme Court review the records of a lower court, usually a circuit Court of Appeals, and reevaluate the lower court's decision. Unlike other courts, the Supreme Court is not required to hear a case. It can deny the Writ, and allow the lower court's opinion to "stand," meaning that the lower court's decision is final.

With rare exceptions, each side is allowed 30 minutes argument and up to 24 cases may be argued in a term. The Court decides up to 150 cases without oral argument. Since the majority of cases involve the review of a decision of some other court, there is no jury and no witnesses are heard. For each case, the Court has before it a record of prior proceedings and printed briefs containing the arguments of each side.

Mr. McNabb, senior principal, is licensed to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States and has extensive experience in handling Writ of Certioraris. More information can be found below:

Supreme Court official site

Supreme Court Historical Society site.