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• The U.S. Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States, deciding key matters of Constitutional Law. The Supreme Court is sometimes referred to by the acronym SCOTUS.

  On May 26, 2009, Judge Sonia Sotomayor of the Second Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals was nominated by President Barack Obama to replace Justice David Souter, upon his retirement from the U.S. Supreme Court.http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/05/26/sotomayor.bio/

• Fast Facts

  1. Chief Justice: John Roberts
  2. Members: Nine Supreme Court Justices and eight Associate Justices
  3. Established by Article III of the Constitution
  4. Headquarters: U.S. Supreme Court Building, Washington, DC

• Supreme Court Cases

  The Supreme Court hears about 5,000 cases annually, but only takes on between 100-150 of those cases. Cases that are heard in the Supreme Court involve a question regarding the U.S. Constitution, or cases that have been appealed in lower courts. Some cases heard in the Supreme Court involve treason or disputes with foreign countries.

• Supreme Court Rulings

  When the justices of the Supreme Court render a decision, all of the courts in the U.S. follow the precedent that the ruling has set. So cases ruled upon in the Supreme Court affect future similar cases throughout the country.

• Supreme Court Justices

  Justices of the Supreme Court are nominated by the President of the United States. The nominee will then be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Justices will serve until their retirement, death, or conviction of impeachment.

• FCC Fines

  On April 28, 2009, the Court upheld the FCC's ability to charge fines of up to $325,000 each time an expletive is used on the air. The case, which was decided by a vote of five to four, stemmed from Cher's use of the 'f-word' at the 2002 Billboard Music Awards. Justice Antonin Scalia wrote the majority opinion, which colorfully assailed "foul-mouthed glitteratae from Hollywood."Salon.com: Scalia on "foul-mouthed glitteratae from Hollywood" (April 28, 2009)

• Current Justices

  • John Roberts (Chief Justice)
  • Samuel Alito
  • Stephen Breyer
  • Ruth Bader Ginsburg
  • Anthony Kennedy
  • Antonin Scalia
  • David Souter
  • John Paul Stevens
  • Clarence Thomas

• Related Mahalo Pages

  John Roberts | John Paul Stevens | Anthony Kennedy | David Souter | Ruth Bader Ginsburg | Stephen Breyer | Samuel Alito | Antonin Scalia | Clarence Thomas | Clean Air Act | The Bush Administration | Abortion | Exxon Valdez Case Review | How to Get Out of Jury Duty | Bush v. Gore | David Souter Retirement | Sonia Sotomayor | How to Choose a Law School

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