(seated) Thomas, Scalia, Chief Justice Roberts, Kennedy, Ginsburg,
Who decides what our freedoms are? And who decides how they should be interpreted?
That's the job of the Judicial Branch.
There are several layers of federal and state courts. The most important cases go all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The decisions of the majority are a huge deal because they guide the judgements of lower courts. Justices often write opinions even when they disagree with the majority because judges and lawyers may cite to what they say long into the future.
in black but
the Justices
are so not
goth.
The Supreme Court can declare laws unconstitutional. It can order federal and state governments to rethink their opinions.
The nine Justices take a lot of heat when they challenge popular opinion. But they can't be bullied out of office - they've got lifetime gigs. The Framers of the Constitution thought of everything!
Now if the Justices would just let TV cameras into their courtroom. And...yo, guys, about those robes.
