Equal Justice under Law

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer explores the origins and history of the Supreme Court of the United States. The writer traces the early role of the court in the course of the development of the country. The writer notes that the Court is not without controversy, and decisions made have come to be symbolic of the wrongs of society, and the correction of these mistakes demonstrates the ability of the court to adapt and lead modern thinking. Finally the requirements of how a case is brought before the Court are discussed.

From the Paper:

"In the constitutional scheme developed nearly two hundred and thirty years ago, the judiciary was established as one of the three co-equal branches of the federal government. Yet, Article III of the Constitution is surprisingly brief as to the establishment of the structure, duties and make up of a very powerful branch of the government. The court has been left largely to its own devices as how it conducts its affairs and what cases it chooses to hear, given the charge of original jurisdiction over a very few cases, the Supreme Court has become an institution equated with the preservation of civil liberties in our modern society. The history of the Supreme Court is the history of the United States and its struggle to maintain the Republic through a wide variety of challenges and crisis. A focus of political angst and a vestige of last hope for the oppressed members of society, whose imperfect judgment has stood the test of time, and corrected its past errors. With little Constitutional direction, this body has shaped modern society."
"The Supreme Court of the United States has jurisdiction over cases involving Ambassadors and other public ministers, cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdictions, controversies between two or more states, between the state and a citizen of another state and appellate jurisdiction over lower courts."

Sample of Sources Used:

• "A Brief Overview of the Supreme Court" United States Supreme Court Website. Retrieved August 14, 2007, from http://www.supremecourtus.gov/about/briefoverview.pdf.
• Black, Henry Campbell. Black's Law Dictionary. (1979). St. Paul: West Publishing Company.
• Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka. (1954) 347 U.S. 483
• Marbury v. Madison. (1803) 5 U.S. 137
• Plessy v. Ferguson. (1896) 163 U.S. 537.

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