Supreme Court History

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As former Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black stated, “No higher duty, or more solemn responsibility rests upon this Court than that of translating into living law and maintaining this constitutional shield...for the benefit of every human being subject to our Constitution— of whatever race, creed, or persuasion” (Swainson, 116). Indeed, it is true that the Supreme Court is the mirror with which the United States examines the Constitution more deeply. However, while the Supreme Court is the mirror that is used to perform this action, the Justices of the Supreme Court are those who hold the mirror and exercise constitutional judgment in their examination. Throughout this paper, I will explore the history of the Supreme Court and its justices, the …show more content…
Although not official law until the Judiciary Act of 1789 was ratified, the Supreme Court of the United States was declared as the court above all other courts in Article III, Section I of the United States Constitution (Britannica). As an appellate group, the Supreme Court is the court of last resort in the United States of America, with the ability to adjudicate concerning laws, treaties, issues relating to the Constitution, cases involving two or more states, and in any situation in which the United States is involved (Britannica). Conversely, in cases involving public officials, ambassadors, and when the states in the Union are involved with another nation, the Supreme Court acts as a trial court …show more content…
Madison (HistoryNet). Also notable was Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841-1935), son of the famed poet and physician, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (HistoryNet). Yet one of the most famous Justices in American History was Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016), a uncompromising force for strict constructionism (the belief that the Constitution should be interpreted as written), and who will later be discussed in this paper (Britannica).
Furthermore, the qualifications and duties necessary for the office of Supreme Court
Justice are essential for a thorough evaluation of the aforementioned position. Of qualifications the official Supreme Court website states, As the official Supreme Court website (supremecourt.gov) states, “The Constitution does not specify qualifications for Justices such as age, education, profession, or native-born citizenship. A Justice does not have to be a lawyer or a law school graduate, but all Justices have been trained in the law. Many of the 18th and 19th century Justices studied law under a mentor because there were few law schools in the
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