The U.S. Supreme Court

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 and is headquartered on First Street in Washington, D.C.http://www.supremecourt.gov/about/briefoverview.aspx

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/ She was later confirmed by the U.S. Senate and sworn in as a justice in August 2009.http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32340419/38149201

After Justice John Paul Stevens announced that he would be retiring from the Court in 2010, Elena Kagan was nominated by President Obama to replace him. She was confirmed in a 63 to 37 Senate vote and sworn in on Saturday, August 7, 2010 by Chief Justice John Roberts.http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0722735220100807

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.http://www.supremecourt.gov/about/briefoverview.aspx

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.http://www.supremecourt.gov/about/briefoverview.aspx

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.http://www.supremecourt.gov/about/briefoverview.aspx There have been 111 Supreme Court justices since the court's establishment in 1789. They serve an average of 16 years on the court. The practice of justices wearing black robes was inspired by the custom of judges wearing robes in court in England. Originally the robes were red, but were changed to black in 1800.http://www.supremecourt.gov/faq_justices.aspx#faqjustice1

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)

• John Roberts (Chief Justice)http://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx
• Samuel Alitohttp://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx
• Stephen Breyerhttp://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx
• Ruth Bader Ginsburghttp://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx
• Elena Kaganhttp://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0722735220100807
• Anthony Kennedyhttp://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx
• Antonin Scaliahttp://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx
• Sonia Sotomayorhttp://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx
• Clarence Thomashttp://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx