“The Supreme Court of the United States represents the highest echelon of the third branch of government, the judiciary” (Adler, 2006). The Supreme Court has jurisdiction over basically everything. It is the highest level of courts in the United States, “The United States Supreme court is the ultimate authority in interpreting the Constitution as it applies to both federal and state law. Also it is the final authority in interpreting federal law. Both state and federal cases may eventually reach the Supreme Court” (Adler 2006). According to the United States Constitution;
“The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority;—to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls;—to all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction;—to Controversies to which the United States shall be a Party;—to Controversies between two or more States;—between a State and Citizens of another State;—between Citizens of different States;—between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under Grants of different States, and between a State, or the Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects. In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party, the Supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before mentioned, the Supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Congress shall make. Appellate jurisdiction has been conferred upon the Supreme Court by various statutes, under the authority given Congress by the Constitution.” (www.supremecourts.gov, 2006). “The chief justice of the Supreme Court is not just the chief justice of the Supreme Court, but also the chief justice of the United States. The president of the United States, along with consent from the senate, appoints the chief justice as well as the other eight justices. The Supreme Court has over 7,000 cases filed each year, but they only hear about 100 cases, sometimes fewer” (Adler, 2006).
