What is the Supreme Court? The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the federal judiciary. It was established by the Constitution of the United States, which was adopted in 1787. The Constitution grants the Supreme Court the power to hear appeals from lower federal courts and state courts, as well [...]
This is the second post in our multi-part series which covers the history of the Court—from establishment and its first 100 years to landmark cases and the Court’s future. Our first installment detailing the Court’s establishment is available here. * * * At its founding the United States Supreme Court was an appellate court—a [...]
The Supreme Court is often described as distinctly American in concept and function. We look to it as the last resort in search of justice, equality, and validation of our political views. It’s where we wage our most serious legal battles––from voting disputes and privacy issues to establishing the rights of women and minorities. But [...]
“There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact.” –Arthur Conan Doyle From the installation of a frozen-yogurt machine to verified Klu Klux Klan membership–here are 25 SCOTUS facts you didn’t know you needed to know: Curriculum Vitae: Excluding Senate confirmation, there are no formal requirements for becoming a Supreme Court Justice. 57%, or [...]
President Trump’s recent executive order on immigration is already facing several legal challenges, despite the policy being only a few weeks old. At the time of this writing, the United States Circuit Court of Appeals has declined to grant a stay on a temporary restraining order suspending the order, and the Trump administration is preparing to [...]
The Supreme Court is often described as distinctly American in concept and function. We look to it as the last resort in search of justice, equality, and validation of our political views. It’s where we wage our most serious legal battles – from voting disputes and privacy issues to establishing the rights of young [...]
“Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please.” – Mark Twain. From the installation of a frozen-yogurt machine to verified KKK membership, the history of the United States Supreme Court and its Justices is filled with fascinating facts. Curriculum Vitae: Excluding Senate confirmation, there are no formal requirements for becoming a [...]
During this week in 1922, the Supreme Court made an important ruling which helped shape Major League Baseball as we know it today. The decision was Federal Baseball Club of Baltimore v. National League. Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote in his majority opinion that exhibitions of baseball are purely state affairs, and thus not subject to [...]
In the latest Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics, I review UCLA law professor Stuart Banner's book Who Owns the Sky? The Struggle to Control Airspace from the Wright Brothers On. Banner’s book is outstanding because it presents the history of air law -- particularly the struggle to determine who would have property rights in and [...]