Blog Post 2: About the history and workings of the U.S. Supreme Court

Before watching the Comm3390 Supreme Court videos (1 & 2), my understanding of the Supreme Court was largely restricted to its function as the final appellate court for legal cases in the United States. I was not, however, aware of the significant discretion the court has in deciding which cases it will hear. I had thought beforehand that the Court would be interested to hear most of the appeals that came before it; however, I learned that it receives thousands, not even millions, of petitions each year. The Supreme Court interprets the law not just as a "reactive body" per se, but also as a "proactive body" that actively influences public policy through its rulings on a range of situations, according to one explanation of the videos. It is the way that the justices have to consider the bigger political and societal impacts of their actions that is very eye-opening for me. I had always thought the court as a body was only concerned about high-profile cases, law, and independent political influence. After watching, I see it is more than that; the video reveals to us how the ideology and strategic thinking decisions influence us as a country. The most interesting insight for me was the significant role played by law clerks within our country.

The most interesting insight for me was the significant role played by law clerks within our country. I had no idea beforehand that clerks play such an important role in screening many petitions and also help develop an opinion for the justices themselves. This adds another level to the process of decision-making and highlights the often overlooked work happening in the background. In addition to this, the videos made me reimagine the justices as legal authorities only and instead as human beings with individual philosophies and personal lives and, on some occasions, political agendas as well. Watching these lectures shifted my understanding of the Court to the point where it remains an integral part of justice but is now viewed as human and far more entwined in politics and strategic plays than I had ever understood beforehand. This awareness of complexity further reinforces my respect for the Court within our country.