SCOTUS
Nine-justice tribunal
SCOTUS is an acronym for the Supreme Court of the United States, the highest court in the federal judiciary.
The term appears frequently in legal writing, journalism, and political discussion: SCOTUS ruled 6-3 against the plaintiff, waiting on the SCOTUS decision.
Pronounced as a word rather than spelled out.
Presiding judge, highest court
- nominationFormal candidate selection
- confirmationEstablishing something as true
- appointmentScheduled time for something
- tenureProtected employment status
recusal · robes · bench · chambers · clerk · lifetime appointment · swing vote · judicial philosophy
Spoken case presentation
- certiorariHigher court's review order
- docketCourt's case schedule
- briefShort in duration
- petitionerOne who formally requests
respondent · opinion · dissent · concurrence · majority opinion · plurality · ruling · decision
Courts invalidating unconstitutional acts
- separation of powersConstitutional distribution of authority
- checks and balancesConstitutional power-limiting framework
- amendmentChange to official text
- bill of rightsDocument listing protected liberties
civil liberties · civil rights · enumerated powers · framers · founding fathers · ratification · originalism · textualism
Landmark desegregation decision
- Roe v Wade1973 reproductive rights decision
- Citizens UnitedSupreme Court campaign ruling
- MirandaCustodial rights advisement
- GriswoldHistoric cookware company
precedent · overturned · watershed · historic · consequential · reversal
Courts of national government
- original jurisdictionCourt's power to hear cases first
- solicitor generalGovernment's chief appellate lawyer
chief justice
Presiding judge, highest court
- nominationFormal candidate selection
- confirmationEstablishing something as true
- appointmentScheduled time for something
tenure · recusal · robes · bench · chambers · clerk · lifetime appointment · swing vote · judicial philosophy · seniority
oral argument
Spoken case presentation
- certiorariHigher court's review order
- docketCourt's case schedule
- briefShort in duration
petitioner · respondent · opinion · dissent · concurrence · majority opinion · plurality · ruling · decision · hearing
judicial review
Courts invalidating unconstitutional acts
- separation of powersConstitutional distribution of authority
- checks and balancesConstitutional power-limiting framework
- amendmentChange to official text
bill of rights · civil liberties · civil rights · enumerated powers · framers · founding fathers · ratification · originalism · textualism · constitutionality
Brown v Board
Landmark desegregation decision
- Roe v Wade1973 reproductive rights decision
- Citizens UnitedSupreme Court campaign ruling
- MirandaCustodial rights advisement
Griswold · precedent · overturned · watershed · historic · consequential · reversal
federal judiciary
Courts of national government
- original jurisdictionCourt's power to hear cases first
- solicitor generalGovernment's chief appellate lawyer
SCOTUSCongress
U.S. lawmaking body
legislature · POTUS · Capitol Hill · U.S. Congress · lawmaking body
SCOTUSlower courts
Non-appellate judicial bodies
trial courts · municipal courts · small claims court · trial court · district courts
- Duns ScotusMedieval Scottish theologian-philosopher
court, supreme, states, courts, Supreme Court, States, Supreme