Childrens Illustrated Encyclopedia

511

The courT decides

some 6,500 cases come before the court each year. After

written and oral arguments, the justices discuss the case

together and vote. A majority vote decides the outcome of

the case. if the chief justice votes with the majority, he or

she selects a justice to write the opinion of the court. A

justice who disagrees may write a dissenting opinion.

supreme courT jusTices

The members of the us supreme court

are appointed by the president, with

the approval of the senate. The justices

may serve for life. in 1967, Thurgood

marshall became the first African

American to be appointed to the court. in

1981, sandra day o’connor became the

first female us supreme court justice.

Supreme Court

justices first wore

traditional black

robes in the early

19th century.

The highesT courT in the united states, the supreme court is the

ultimate court of appeal. established in 1789, the court’s basic duty is to

interpret and rule on the laws laid down in the constitution. The court

consists of nine members—a chief justice and eight Associate justices.

They have the power of judicial review, to determine if state or federal

laws conflict with how the court interprets the constitution. however,

most of the 6,500 cases the court hears each year are on appeal from

lower courts. in its landmark cases, the court has made decisions that

have shaped American law and the American way of life.

supreme court

civil righTs And The courT

many of the court’s landmark cases deal with civil rights.

in 1951, eight-year-old linda Brown was turned away

from a whites-only school in Topeka, Kansas; she was

the wrong color. in 1954, the court ruled in Brown

versus Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas that school

segregation was a violation of the 14th Amendment.

African-American schoolchildren

defy segregation in the aftermath

of the Brown versus Board of

Education case.

courT TrAdiTions

The us supreme court justices follow many long-

standing traditions. since 1800, the justices have worn

black robes. Quill pens are placed on their tables each

day, and at the beginning of each session, each justice

always shakes hands with the other eight.

landmark cases

1803 marbury v. madison

gave the court the power

to determine an act of

congress unconstitutional.

1857 dred scott v. John

sanford Blacks, even those

freed from slavery, could

not become citizens.

1954 Brown v. Board of

education declared that

segregation of whites and

nonwhites was unequal

and therefore a violation

of the constitution.

1961 mapp v. Ohio

no conviction from

evidence gained by

entering a house without

a search warrant.

1962 engel v. Vitale

prayer not compulsory

in public schools.

1966 miranda v. arizona

criminal suspects must be

informed of their rights.

1973 roe v. Wade right

right to abortion in

the first trimester

of pregnancy.

Thurgood Marshall

leaves the Supreme

Court with his wife.

Chief Justice

Warren Burger

reads the oath

John O’Connor

holds the Bible

Sandra Day

O’Connor is

sworn in as a

Supreme

Court justice

civil rights

constitution

law

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