An Introduction to the Supreme Court
The U.S Supreme Court
The U.S. Supreme Court, which is the highest court in the country, holds nine elected justices appointed by the sitting president that are then approved by the senate. Yet many cases are not covered unless thought to be a historical moment for the country. However, there are many other cases that are important too and may have an impact on our community. That's why the Keller Corner on the Supreme Court was created.
Meet The Justices
Below are the Supreme Court justices that work day in and day out among their staff selecting the few cases of which they believe to be the most critical to hear.
John Roberts, who is the current chief justice, attended both Harvard for his undergraduate degree and his law degree. Justice Roberts started out as a law clerk working his way up the ladder to a Judge on the United States Court of Appeals which ultimately got him nominated to the Supreme Court by President George W. Bush (Supreme Court of the United States 2022).
Clarence Thomas attended the College of the Holy Cross for his undergraduate degree and received his law degree from Yale Law School. After an impressive higher-up law position in Missouri, he became a Judge on the United States Court of Appeals leading to his nomination for the Supreme Court by President George W. Bush (Supreme Court of the United States 2022).
Samuel Alito attended Princeton University for his undergraduate degree and then went on to receive his law degree from Yale Law School (“Judicial Nominations – Justice Samuel A. Alito,”). After graduating with his law degree, he quickly climbed the ladder through positions in the federal courts before being nominated to the Supreme Court by President George W Bush (Supreme Court of the United States 2022).
Sonia Sotomayor attended Princeton University for her undergraduate degree graduating with the highest of honors bestowed upon by the school. Right after graduating from Yale Law School, she became Assistant District Attorney. After a career in both the District Court and the U.S Court of Appeals she was nominated to the Supreme Court by President Bill Clinton (Supreme Court of the United States 2022).
Elena Kagan attended Princeton University for her undergraduate degree, then went on to graduate from Oxford with a master’s in philosophy. She then continued her education by receiving her law degree from Harvard Law School. After both an impressive career practicing and teaching law she was nominated to the Supreme Court by PresidentBarack Obama (Supreme Court of the United States 2022).
Neil Gorsuch attended Columbia University for his undergraduate degree and received his law degree from Harvard Law School, as well as a Doctorate in Philosophy from Oxford University. After both a career in higher up law offices as well as teaching law, he was nominated to the Supreme Court by President Donald Trump (Supreme Court of the United States 2022).
Brett Kavanaugh attended Yale University for his undergraduate degree and continued to Yale Law School to receive his law degree. After working his way up the ladder in the U.S Court of Appeals, working in a law firm and for the White House, he was eventually nominated for the Supreme Court by President Donald Trump (Supreme Court of the United States 2022).
Amy Coney Barrett attended Rhodes College for her undergraduate degree and then went on to receive her law degree for Notre Dame Law School. After career advancements she went back to Notre Dame to teach law before becoming a Judge in the U.S Court of Appeals. She was then nominated to her current position to the Supreme Court by President Donald Trump (Supreme Court of the United States 2022).
Ketanji Brown Jackson attended Harvard-Radcliffe College and continued to Harvard Law School graduating in high honors from both colleges. After an impressive career in both higher up federal courts as well as private practices before becoming a U.S Court of Appeals Judge then being nominated to the Supreme Court by President Joe Biden (Supreme Court of the United States 2022).
Works Cited
“Judicial Nominations - Justice Samuel A. Alito.” n.d. Georgewbush-Whitehouse.archives.gov. https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/infocus/judicialnominees/alito.html#:~:text=BIOGRAPHY-.
Supreme Court of the United States. 2022. “Current Members.” Supremecourt.gov. 2022. https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx.