The Supreme Court – SCOTUS

The Supreme Court – SCOTUS – was established by the United States Constitution. The Supreme Court began to take shape with the institution of the Judiciary Act of 1789 and has enjoyed a rich history since its first assembly in 1790. SCOTUS is deeply tied to its traditions: Of the federal government’s three branches, the Court bears the closest resemblance to its original form – a 225-year-old legacy.

The formation of a Federal Judiciary was a high priority for the new government. And the first bill introduced in the United States Senate became the Judiciary Act of 1789. The act separated the country into 13 judicial districts, which were organized into three circuits: the Eastern, Middle, and Southern.

The Supreme Court, the country’s highest judicial tribunal, was to sit in the Nation’s Capital and was originally composed of a Chief Justice and five Associate Justices. For the first 101 years of the Supreme Court’s life — except for a brief period in the early 1800s — the Justices were also required to “ride circuit,” and hold circuit court twice a year in each judicial district.

Members of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President subject to the approval of the Senate. To ensure an independent Judiciary and to protect judges from partisan pressures, the Constitution provides that judges serve during “good Behaviour,” which has generally meant life terms. To further assure their independence, the Constitution provides that judges’ salaries may not be diminished while they are in office.

The number of Justices on the Supreme Court changed six times before settling at the present total of nine in 1869. Since the beginning of the Court in 1790, there have been only 17 Chief Justices^* and 102 Associate Justices, with Justices serving for an average of 16 years. Despite this important institutional continuity, the Court has had periodic infusions of new Justices and new ideas throughout its existence. On average, a new Justice joins the Court almost every two years.

President Washington appointed the six original Justices and before the end of his second term had appointed four other Justices. During his long tenure, President Franklin D. Roosevelt came close to this record by appointing eight Justices and elevating Justice Harlan Fiske Stone to be Chief Justice.

Originalist –believe the Constitution’s original meaning is ‘fixed’.