Article III Section 2: Supreme Court has original and appellate jurisdiction
Cases involving representatives of foreign gov’ts
Certain cases in which a state is a party
Court can also hear cases appealed from the highest court of a state, if claims under federal law or the Constitution are involved
Supreme Court consists of nine justices: Chief justice and 8 associate judges
Three decision making tasks
1. Deciding on which cases to hear
2. Deciding the case itself
3. Determining the explanation for the decision called Court’s Opinion
Law clerks assist justices with writing memos summarizing the key issues in each case
Justice usually has a law degree and considerable legal experience
Appointed by president and confirmed by Senate
American Bar Association evaluates the professional qualifications of candidates for all Article III judicial positions (Supreme Court, United States Court of Appeals, and U.S. District Courts
Interest groups try to influence the selection process through lobbyists.
Members of Supreme Court have influence in the selection of new justices