Blog #2- The Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is our nation's highest court providing impactful interpretations of the law as well as hearing cases that still have precedent one hundred years later. There are a total of 9 justices including one chief justice who defend our Constitution. They use their opinions as well as their extensive knowledge of law and the Constitution to make rulings on some of the most high profile cases in the United States. All justices are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate in a hearing. 

I thought I knew a good bit regarding the Supreme Court and how it works before this assignment. I knew how Justices get appointed, I had heard quite a bit about Justice Brett Kavanaugh and his Senate hearing, and I started a book called Over Ruled: The Human Tool of Too Much Law written by Justice Neil Gorsuch which provided some insight on the court systems. These videos definitely enriched my knowledge of the country’s highest court. 

Brett Kavanaugh

This video highlighted the exclusivity of being a justice on the Supreme Court citing the fact that the Supreme Court has been in existence for over 230 years but has only had 112 justices serve. Their average service time is about 16 years but many serve a little longer. The video definitely helped to put in perspective how big of an accomplishment it is to become a justice on the Supreme Court. 

The most important takeaway from these videos for me was the combination of how much interpretation of the Constitution is needed as well as how much power the justices themselves have. The Constitution needs quite a bit of interpretation especially in the modern era. Amendments such as the first amendment seem very cut and dry on the surface but in reality, there is a lot to interpret within the realm of free speech. This leads right into the power that they have. They have the ability to interpret all the amendments however they see fit. They have the ability to dictate how amendments are used in the practical world which allows for fewer corners to be cut and helps to decrease the number of workarounds that citizens use to get ahead. The Supreme Court upholds the law in a way that other government entities cannot by ensuring the standard is met and citizens do not use their rights to bypass laws. 

The videos helped me to understand just how impactful the US Supreme Court is for everyday life and the lasting impact it has. The ability the justices have to implement the amendments in a practical way not only to improve life but, keep order in our country is a must when it comes to utilizing and keeping our rights given to us from the constitution. The understanding I gained from these videos allows me to feel much more confident in my knowledge of how our highest court system works and how it affects me on a day to day basis. 

Supreme Court Building