Supreme Court Reflection

Before watching this video, I knew the Supreme Court was the highest court in the United States, but I did not realize how much influence it has over time. One of the most surprising things I learned is that Supreme Court justices serve for life and remain on the Court for an average of 16 years. Because of this, they often continue shaping the law long after the presidents who appointed them have left office.

I also learned that the Senate confirmation process plays a very important role in shaping the Court. It gives the public an indirect voice in determining who serves as a justice, which means the Court's composition can reflect broader public sentiment over time.

Another interesting point was how the Supreme Court established its authority. Under Chief Justice John Marshall, the Court asserted the power of judicial review, helping to establish itself as a co-equal branch of government. At the same time, the video showed that the Court has not always strengthened its reputation. The Dred Scott v. Sandford decision weakened the Court's authority by ruling that Congress could not ban slavery and that African Americans could never be citizens.

Inside the Supreme Court 

What stood out to me most was the importance of the Fourteenth Amendment. I learned that it protects individuals from abuses of state power in a way that is similar to how the Bill of Rights protects people from federal power. The Civil War amendments also abolished slavery, defined citizenship, and expanded voting rights.

I was surprised to discover how selective the Supreme Court is when choosing cases. The Court receives thousands of petitions every year but accepts only about 100 for full consideration. I also did not know that a denial of certiorari does not mean the justices agree with a lower court's ruling. It simply means the Court chose not to review the case.

The video changed the way I think about the Supreme Court because it highlighted both the complexity of the Court's work and the professionalism o
f the justices. Even when they disagree on major constitutional issues, they share a commitment to the law and respect each other's good-faith efforts. The handshake tradition before conferences was a small detail, but it reinforced the importance of collegiality in an institution that often deals with difficult and controversial questions.

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AI DISCLOSURE: This post was a collaboration using microsoft Copilot. I took detailed notes while watching a 20 minute video about the history of the Supreme Court. In addition to facts that I learned I emphasized my own reactions and opinions while watching. I then asked copilot to help me improve the text by correcting grammar, spelling, and puncuation. I then asked Copilot to help me shape the text into a blog post format. After reviewing the text, I added links to related resources, as well as appropriate images and caption. 

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Watch the Video Here