The Supreme Court: History and Reflection

The US Supreme Court: Shattering Expectations? 

    Reflecting upon the reviewing history of the US Supreme Court, something fascinating I learned about its history is that they receive over 100 new cases every week and more than 7,000 cases annually while very few actually get selected. In addition, a vast majority of presented cases arrive as petitions for certiorari, which are written arguments to persuade the court that a previous lower ruling such as from the local or state level was incorrect. Also, A key fact I found surprising about the US Supreme Court was that the federal judiciary keeps little to no secrets because every ruling and briefing is extensively published in the final opinion. Contrary to common belief, the court's final judgments are not kept in secret classified circles! The main takeaway I had from the Supreme Court debriefing videos was that the judiciary derives its legitimacy from the constitution, while its power resides with the public's faith in its independence and legitimacy to make constitutionally sound decisions. In essence, my point of view drastically shifted after further exploring this topic in that I now understand the Supreme Court justices to be little more than educated people working a job! Watching them interviewed, it became very clear that these justices are in no way charismatic or glittery politicians, but instead highly down-to-earth citizens that just care about the well-being of our country. I would highly recommend diving deeper into how the Supreme Court independently functions as it has a fascinating history and its justices complete meaningful work.