Supreme Court Justice
Highest bench member
A Supreme Court Justice is a member of the highest court in a judicial system, most often referring to the United States Supreme Court.
The nine justices serve lifetime appointments and decide cases involving constitutional interpretation and federal law.
She was confirmed as a Supreme Court Justice after contentious hearings.
The term applies to similar positions in other countries' highest courts.
Subjective personal belief
- majority opinionPosition most hold
- dissentDisagreement with authority
- concurrenceState of agreeing
- precedentPrior authoritative example
landmark decision · overturn · affirm · remand · holding · dicta · plurality · syllabus
Courts invalidating unconstitutional acts
- separation of powersConstitutional distribution of authority
- checks and balancesConstitutional power-limiting framework
- bill of rightsDocument listing protected liberties
- amendmentChange to official text
due process · equal protection · establishment clause · federalism · enumerated powers · civil liberties · executive power · legislative power
Formal candidate selection
- confirmationEstablishing something as true
- Senate hearingLegislative investigative proceeding
- appointmentScheduled time for something
- lifetime tenurePosition held indefinitely
swearing-in · oath · retirement · resignation · impeachment · recusal · seniority · recess appointment
Notable point of reference
- influentialHaving considerable effect
- precedent-settingEstablishing a guiding example
- transformativeCausing major change
- seminalFoundational and influential
authoritative · trailblazing · pioneering · eminent · distinguished · jurisprudence · judicial philosophy · dissenter
Shared seating surface
- chambersEnclosed functional rooms
- robesLong loose outer garments
- gavelSmall ceremonial hammer
- clerkOffice record-keeper
oral argument · docket · solicitor general · litigant · petitioner · respondent · brief · marshal
opinion
Subjective personal belief
- majority opinionPosition most hold
- dissentDisagreement with authority
- concurrenceState of agreeing
precedent · landmark decision · overturn · affirm · remand · holding · dicta · plurality · syllabus · oral argument
judicial review
Courts invalidating unconstitutional acts
- separation of powersConstitutional distribution of authority
- checks and balancesConstitutional power-limiting framework
- bill of rightsDocument listing protected liberties
amendment · due process · equal protection · establishment clause · federalism · enumerated powers · civil liberties · executive power · legislative power · free speech
nomination
Formal candidate selection
- confirmationEstablishing something as true
- Senate hearingLegislative investigative proceeding
- appointmentScheduled time for something
lifetime tenure · swearing-in · oath · retirement · resignation · impeachment · recusal · seniority · recess appointment · short list
landmark
Notable point of reference
- influentialHaving considerable effect
- precedent-settingEstablishing a guiding example
- transformativeCausing major change
seminal · authoritative · trailblazing · pioneering · eminent · distinguished · jurisprudence · judicial philosophy · dissenter · swing vote
bench
Shared seating surface
clerk · oral argument · docket · solicitor general · litigant · petitioner · respondent · brief · marshal · quorum
- British JudgesLord Chancellor, Coroner
- Canadian JusticesThomas Cromwell
- Notable AlumniNobel laureate, Rhodes Scholar, Fulbright Scholar, valedictorian, summa cum laude
Supreme Court Justicetraffic court judge
Presides over driving violations
justice of the peace · defendant · magistrate · law clerk · public defender
Supreme Court Justiceelected official
Voter-chosen public servant
congressman · mayor · voter · constituent · campaign donor
Supreme Court Justicecriminal defendant
Person charged with offense
prisoner · death row inmate · convicted felon · petitioner · plaintiff
supreme, court, justice, supremely, supremacy, supremacist, courts, courted, courting