The Founding Era - Supreme Court

 

One thing I learned about the supreme court in the videos that I didn't already know is that they have been having meetings since the 1790s. I had expected them to have been having meetings for quite some time, but I just didn’t expect them to have taken place over 230 years ago. It's truly fascinating to think about how early the legal system in the United States has been shaping the way of our nation, and cool to see that even after all of these years they are still doing just that same thing. With that being said, it makes me wonder how their meetings and decision making may have changed throughout the years, and if they have, or have not evolved over time, especially when you consider the drastic changes in technologies, cultures, and even just with laws.

The most important takeaway I learned from the videos that I have watched is that the supreme court helps to ensure that the American people are promised equal justice under the United States law. They also make sure that every law lines up with the United State’s ideas and core principles, which include democracy, liberty, and fairness. In my opinion, this is extremely important because over time laws can be changed, challenged, and interpreted in various different ways, and in the end it all comes back to the Supreme Court to determine their constitutionality.

The thing that surprised me the most after learning about the supreme court was how many petitions for review the Supreme Court gets every year. Annually, the Supreme Court can receive around 7,000 petitions, but they can only take around 100, according to the Supreme Court Procedures. I was shocked with just how selective the Supreme Court case processes are, and after truly realizing just how many cases go unheard each year, it made me realize how important the selected cases really are considering the rarity of a case getting picked within the 7,000 requests.

Overall, my view on the Supreme Court did not really change that much. I always knew how important the Supreme Court is in the United States, and how much of an essential role they play with each case trying their best for a proper alignment under the constitution. Although nothing really changed in my head, I did gain a bigger appreciation for everything that goes on in the Supreme Court, after being reminded of the weight on casing decisions, considering that every decision made under the Supreme Court has the opportunity of leaving long lasting effects on the United States of America, as well as its citizens.