Judiciary

Question 1

When was it
established?

Answer 1

The SCOTUS is over 250 years old and was established in 1789. Article III, Section 1, of the American Constitution provides that “[t]he judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court”

Question 2

How are Supreme Court Justices chosen?

Answer 2

• President makes the nomination. Senate then ratifies the nomination after holding hearings with the nominee.
• No qualifications required (formally)
• The Justices can be chosen from a large pool and their backgrounds can be varied. Many have never been trial judges. There is no distinction between lawyers in the USA – they are all ‘attorneys’.

Question 3

Who are the Supreme Court Justices?

Answer 3

Currently the SCOTUS is made up of 9 Justices, there are 6 men and 3 women.
Their backgrounds vary. They are of different ethnicities including one African American male and a Hispanic female.