Ever get into a fight with your sister, say, over who spilled the soda on your iPod? Your sister claims you bumped her into the soda. You blame her because her elbow knocked over the soda. You ask your little brother what he thinks. He blames you. You ask your baby sitter what she thinks. She also blames you.
Finally you ask your mom, the highest authority in the house, what she thinks. She decides that because you were running in the house, breaking the rules, it’s your fault.
That is, in a way, how the U.S. court system works. Your mom is like the U.S. Supreme Court, which has the final say in court cases. Last Monday, the Supreme Court began its 2009-2010 session.
The Supreme Court is made up of nine justices (a fancy word for judges) appointed for life by the president and confirmed by the Senate. The court is the third branch of U.S. government along with the executive branch (the president) and the legislative branch, or the lawmakers (Congress).
The Supreme Court chooses which cases to hear each year. They rule on only a small fraction of the cases that are sent to them. They decide the cases based on their understanding of the U.S. Constitution.
Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor is the newest member of the court and the first justice appointed by President Barack Obama. Sotomayor is the first Hispanic, the third woman and the 111th person to serve on the Supreme Court.
The other serving justices are Samuel Alito, Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Anthony Kennedy, John Roberts (the chief justice), Antonin Scalia, John Paul Stevens and Clarence Thomas.
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