The Supreme Court of the United States
United States Supreme Court Building, One First Street NE., Washington, DC 20543
202-479-3000
http://www.supremecourt.gov
MEMBERS
MEMBERS | | |
| CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE UNITED STATES | John G. Roberts, Jr. |
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| Associate Justice | Clarence Thomas |
| Associate Justice | Ruth Bader Ginsburg |
| Associate Justice | Stephen G. Breyer |
| Associate Justice | Samuel A. Alito, Jr. |
| Associate Justice | Sonia Sotomayor |
| Associate Justice | Elena Kagan |
| Associate Justice | Neil M. Gorsuch |
| Associate Justice | Brett M. Kavanaugh |
https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx OFFICERS
OFFICERS | | |
| COUNSELOR TO THE CHIEF JUSTICE | Jeffrey P. Minear |
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| Clerk | Scott S. Harris |
| Court Counsel | Ethan V. Torrey |
| Curator | Catherine E. Fitts |
| Director of Information Technology | Robert J. Hawkins |
| Librarian | Linda S. Maslow |
| Marshal | Pamela Talkin |
| Public Information Officer | Kathleen L. Arberg |
| Reporter of Decisions | Christine L. Fallon |
Article III, section 1, of the Constitution of the United States provides that "[t]he judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish."
The Supreme Court of the United States was created in accordance with this provision and by authority of the Judiciary Act of September 24, 1789 (1 Stat. 73). It was organized on February 2, 1790. Article III, section 2, of the Constitution defines the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court comprises the Chief Justice of the United States and such number of Associate Justices as may be fixed by Congress, which is currently fixed at eight (28 U.S.C. 1). The President nominates the Justices with the advice and consent of the Senate. Article III, section 1, of the Constitution further provides that "[t]he Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office."
In the performance of its functions, the Court is assisted by nine court officers: the Clerk, the Counselor to the Chief Justice, the Court Counsel, the Curator, the Director of Information Technology, the Librarian, the Marshal, the Public Information Officer, and the Reporter of Decisions.
https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/about.aspx Appellate Jurisdiction
Various statutes, derived from the authority that the Constitution has given to Congress, confer appellate jurisdiction upon the Supreme Court. The basic statute effective at this time in conferring and controlling jurisdiction of the Supreme Court may be found in 28 U.S.C. 1251, 1253, 1254, 1257-1259, and various special statutes. Congress has no authority to change the original jurisdiction of this Court.
Court Term
The term of the Court begins on the first Monday in October and lasts until the first Monday in October of the next year. Over the course of a term, approximately 10,000 petitions are filed for cases to be briefed before the Court. Moreover, each year, about 1,200 applications that can be acted upon by a single Justice while serving in the capacity of a Circuit Justice are filed.
http://www.supremecourt.gov/about/procedures.aspx Rulemaking
From time to time, Congress has conferred upon the Supreme Court power to prescribe rules of procedure to be followed by the lower courts of the United States.
Sources of Information
Art Collections
The Supreme Court has been acquiring artwork since the 1830s. Today, it continues to add to its three collections of decorative art, fine art, and graphic art. These collections include antique furniture, busts, engravings, historic furnishings, lithographs, miniatures, photographs, and portraits.
https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/historicCollections.aspx Audio Recordings of Oral Arguments
Recordings of oral arguments become publicly accessible at the end of each argument week. A listener has the option to download the audio files or to hear the arguments on the Supreme Court’s website. Recordings are listed by case name, docket number, and the date of oral argument.
https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_audio/2018 Calendars / Lists
Supreme Court calendars and argument calendars, as well as day call and hearing lists, are posted in Portable Document Format (PDF) for viewing and downloading.
https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/calendarsandlists.aspx Career Opportunities
The Supreme Court posts vacancy announcements online. It also has programs for docents, fellows, and interns.
https://www.supremecourt.gov/jobs/jobs.aspx Chief and Associate Justices
A Chief Justices list and Associate Justices list are available on the "Justices 1789 to Present" web page. The lists include all of the Justices who have served on the Supreme Court.
https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/members_text.aspx A timeline of Chief and Associate Justices is also available.
https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/members.aspx Constitutional Interpretation
See the cornerstone address of Chief Justice Charles E. Hughes: "The Republic Endures and This Is the Symbol of Its Faith."
https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/constitutional.aspx Docket Search
The online docket database contains information on the status of cases filed since the beginning of the 2001 Term.
https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docket.aspx The engrossed dockets from 1791 to 1995 have been scanned by the National Archives from its microfilm collection and are available in its catalog.
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/1524561 Exhibitions
The Office of the Curator creates exhibitions to highlight the work and history of the Nation's highest court, the lives of individual Justices, and the architecture of the Supreme Court building. Exhibitions are self-guided and located on the ground floor of the building.
http://www.supremecourt.gov/visiting/exhibition.aspx Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The Supreme Court posts answers to FAQs online.
https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/faq.aspx The Public Information Office has answered questions that reporters often ask in its "Reporter’s Guide to Applications Pending Before The Supreme Court of the United States."
https://www.supremecourt.gov/publicinfo/reportersguide.pdf | Email:
pio@supremecourt.gov Gift Shop
The Supreme Court Historical Society Gift Shop is accessible online and located on the ground floor of the Supreme Court building. Merchandise ranges from books, folders, statues, and woven throws to jewelry, learning games, scarves, ties, and writing instruments. The shop is open Monday–Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4:25 p.m., excluding Federal Holidays. Phone, 888-539-4438.
http://supremecourtgifts.org/ | Email:
giftshop@supremecourthistory.org History
The Supreme Court Historical Society, a private nonprofit organization, collects and preserves the history of the Supreme Court. Incorporated in the District of Columbia in 1974, its founder Chief Justice Warren E. Burger served as the first honorary chairman. The Society is headquartered in the Opperman House in Washington, DC, where it maintains The Goldman Library. The books housed therein comprise one of the finest collections of Court histories, Justices' writings, and judicial biographies. The library also has materials relating to U.S. attorneys general, solicitors, and Presidents.
http://supremecourthistory.org/index.html Indigent Petitioners
The “Guide for Filing In Forma Pauperis Cases" assists litigants who may lack the financial resources to pay the filing fee or to submit booklet-format documents under Court Rule 33.1.
https://www.supremecourt.gov/guideforIFPcases2017.pdf Links
The Supreme Court's website has links to other Internet sources of information on the Federal Government, the Judiciary, and the Supreme Court.
https://www.supremecourt.gov/links/links.aspx Minutes of the Court
The "Journal of the Supreme Court" contains the official minutes. It reflects the disposition of each case, identifies the court whose judgment is under review, lists the cases argued that day and the attorneys who presented oral argument, contains miscellaneous announcements by the Chief Justice from the bench, and names the attorneys who have been admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court.
https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/journal.aspx Press Releases
Press releases are posted online.
https://www.supremecourt.gov/publicinfo/press/pressreleases.aspx Search Tips
Use the search tips to refine a search and find more specific results on the Supreme Court's website.
https://www.supremecourt.gov/search_help.aspx Site Map
The site map allows visitors to look for specific information or to browse content that aligns with their interests.
https://www.supremecourt.gov/sitemap.aspx Slip Opinions
Slip opinions are posted within minutes after the Justices issue their opinions. They remain posted until the opinions for the entire term are published in the bound volumes of the "United States Reports." A slip opinion comprises the majority or principal opinion, concurring or dissenting opinions, and a prefatory syllabus summarizing the decision.
https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/slipopinion/18 Speeches
Speeches of current and former Supreme Court Justices are available online.
https://www.supremecourt.gov/publicinfo/speeches/speeches.aspx Visiting the Court
The Supreme Court building is open to the public Monday–Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m, excluding Federal holidays.
http://www.supremecourt.gov/visiting/visiting.aspx Maps and brochures are available online. The visitors' guide and map are available in translation: Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish.
https://www.supremecourt.gov/visiting/mapsandbrochures.aspx http://www.supremecourt.gov/contact/contactus.aspx | Email:
pio@supremecourt.gov