US Supreme Court Procedures and Decisions

From the day the U.S. Supreme Court votes to hear a case to the day some nine months when we learn its decision, lots of high-level law happens. What are the daily procedures of the Supreme Court? While the U.S. has a classic dual court system, the Supreme Court stands as the highest and only federal court created by the Constitution. All of the lower federal courts have been created over the years in one of the five â€Å"other† methods of changing the Constitution. Without vacancies, the Supreme Court consists of the Chief Justice of the United States and eight Associate Justices, all appointed by the President of the United States with the approval of the Senate. The Supreme Courts Term or Calendar The annual term of the Supreme Court runs begins on the first Monday in October and continues until late June or early July. During the term, the Court’s calendar is divided between â€Å"sittings,† during which the Justices hear oral arguments on cases and release decisions and â€Å"recesses,† when the Justices deal with other business before the Court and write their opinions to be attached to the Court’s decisions. The Court typically alternates between sittings and recesses about every two weeks throughout the term. During the brief recess periods, the Justices review the arguments, consider upcoming cases, and work on their opinions. During every week of the term, the Justices also review more than 130 petitions asking the Court to review recent decisions of the state and lower federal courts to determine which, if any, should be granted full Supreme Court review with oral arguments by lawyers. During sittings, public sessions start at 10 a.m. sharp and end at 3 p.m., with a one-hour recess for lunch starting at noon. Public sessions are held on Monday through Wednesday only. On Fridays of weeks during which oral arguments were heard, the Justices discuss the cases and vote on requests or â€Å"petitions for writ of certiorari† to hear new cases. Before hearing oral arguments are made, the Court takes care of some procedural business. On Monday mornings, for example, the Court releases its Order List, a public report of all actions taken by the Court including a list of cases accepted and rejected for future consideration, and a list of lawyers newly approved to argue cases before the Court or â€Å"admitted to the Court Bar.† The much-anticipated decisions and opinions of the Court are announced in public sessions held on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings and on third Mondays during May and June. No arguments are heard when the Court sits to announced decisions. While the Court begins its three-month recess in late June, the work of justice continues. During the summer recess, the Justices consider new petitions for Court review, consider and rule on hundreds of motions submitted by lawyers, and prepare for oral arguments scheduled for October. Oral Arguments Before the Supreme Court At precisely 10 a.m. on days the Supreme Court is in session, all present stand as the Marshal of the Court announces the entrance of the justices into the courtroom with the traditional chant: â€Å"The Honorable, the Chief Justice and the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. Oyez! Oyez! Oyez! All persons having business before the Honorable, the Supreme Court of the United States, are admonished to draw near and give their attention, for the Court is now sitting. God save the United States and this Honorable Court.† â€Å"Oyez† is a Middle English word meaning â€Å"hear ye.† After having submitted countless legal briefs, oral arguments give lawyers representing clients in cases before the Supreme Court a chance to present their cases directly to the justices. While many lawyers dream of arguing a case before the Supreme Court and wait years for a chance to do so, when the time finally comes, they are allowed only 30 minutes to present their case. The half-hour time limit is strictly enforced and answering questions asked by the justices does not extend the time limit. As a result, the lawyers, for whom brevity does not come naturally, work for months to hone their presentations to be concise and to anticipate questions. While oral arguments are open to the public and the press, they are not televised. The Supreme Court has never allowed TV cameras in the courtroom during sessions. However, the Court does make audiotapes of oral arguments and opinions available to the public. Prior to oral arguments, parties interested in, but not directly involved in the case will have submitted â€Å"amicus curiae† or friend-of-the-court briefs supporting their views. Supreme Court Opinions and Decisions Once oral arguments to a case have been completed, the justices retire to closed session to formulate their individual opinions to be attached to the Court’s final decision. These discussions are closed to the public and press and are never recorded. Since the opinions are typically lengthy, heavily footnoted, and require extensive legal research, the justices are assisted in writing them by highly-qualified Supreme Court law clerks. The Types of Supreme Court Opinions There are four main types of Supreme Court opinions: Majority Opinions: Forming the Court’s final decision, the majority opinion represents the opinions of the majority of the justices who heard the case. The majority opinion requires at least five justices unless one or more justices have chosen to recuse themselves (not take part) in the decision. The majority opinion is vital as it sets a legal precedent which must be followed by all future courts hearing similar cases.Concurring Opinions:   Justices may also attach concurring opinions to the Court’s majority opinion. As the name implies, concurring opinions agree with the majority opinion. However, concurring opinions may focus on different points of law or agree with the majority for a totally different reason.Dissenting Opinions: Justices who disagree with the majority typically write dissenting opinions explaining the basis for their vote. Not only do dissenting opinions help to explain the Court’s reasoning in its decision, they are often used in majority opinions in similar future cases. Confusingly, justices will write mixed opinions that agree with parts of the majority opinion but disagree with others.Per Curiam Decisions: In rare cases, the Court will issue a â€Å"per curium† opinion. â€Å"Per Curiam  is a Latin phrase meaning â€Å"by the court.† Per curiam opinions are majority opinions are delivered by the Court as a whole, rather than authored by an individual justice. Should the Supreme Court fail to reach a majority opinion -- arrive at a tie vote -- the decisions reached by the lower federal courts or state supreme courts are allowed to remain in effect as if the Supreme Court had never even considered the case. However, the rulings of the lower courts will have no precedent setting value, meaning they will not apply in other states as with majority Supreme Court decisions.

Changes Since the Sixties - 916 Words

There were no time guzzling metal detectors at the airports... or the schools. There were no grouchy warning labels on the records and no ratings necessary on the movies. And TV shows were acceptable to the whole family. Those were the sixties or at least part of it. Some of the 52 million sixties boomers called it the decade of peace, harmony and love mainly for the movement for peace and the flower power attitude. Others, a little more pessimistic, called it the decade of dissatisfaction because of the protests against the war and the race riots in many cities. For the teenagers it was the decade of sweet sounding, good-time rock ‘n rollÂ…from the Beatles to the Kinks and many more in between. Still for others it was filled with†¦show more content†¦There are still many similarities between the sixties and today because most of the changes that occurred in the sixties are still in effect in society. Even though there is still rock, acid rock, and that smooth Motown, today has new genres such as rap and hip-hop. Technology has also had a major impact on the music business. In the sixties music was played on about in. records whereas today we have about in. CDs that can play twice as much music. Also you can now look up lyrics on the internet as well as MP3s but back then it was necessary to buy song books with the lyrics in them. Today there are pesky metal detectors at the airports and even the schools. Today there are often racier commercials than most sixties television shows. There is a need for warning labels on CDs and movies because of the rise of violence, sex, and drugs in the media where in the sixties it was all about flower power and love beads Patti Colemen. says. There is also a fear today that is generated by the media. Instead of hearing only what was happening in your community as it was in the sixties, society now hears all the terrible tragic stories from all over the world due to the internet and other advancements in te chnology. Is it coincidental that the fads and pop culture of the sixties era have begun to resurface in youths lives? Especially at the same time our country has become involved in yet anotherShow MoreRelated Changes Since The Sixties Essay878 Words   |  4 Pagestime guzzling metal detectors at the airports... or the schools. There were no grouchy warning labels on the records and no ratings necessary on the movies. And TV shows were acceptable to the whole family. Those were the sixties or at least part of it. Some of the 52 million sixties’ boomers called it the decade of peace, harmony and love mainly for the movement for peace and the â€Å"flower power† attitude. Others, a little more pessimistic, called it the decade of dissatisfaction because of the protestsRead MoreCanad The Great Canadian Flag Debate1421 Words   |  6 PagesThe Sixties was and still is a decade of great significance for the northern country of Canada, it is due to the fact that the decad e brought intense changes to Canada through historical occurrences that the decade was and still is a significant decade for Canada. The historical occurrences that happened in the Sixties in Canada that were the most significant to Canada in terms of bringing changes to Canada were the occurrences known as the Great Canadian Flag Debate, the Quiet Revolution and theRead MoreEssay about The Appearance of Youth in the 1960s1056 Words   |  5 PagesFashion in the Sixties Throughout time the United States has changed, whether it is hairstyles, clothing styles or all around consciousness, the people of this fantastic era represent the patriotic lifestyle of the 1960’s. 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Macbeth Literary Analysis Free Essays

The Soliloquies of Macbeth Many times in a play, a character, usually alone on stage and pretending that the audience is not there, thinks out loud. This type of action is called a soliloquy: â€Å"An instance of talking to or conserving with oneself or of uttering one’s thoughts aloud without addressing any person† (Oxford English Dictionary). A remarkable author, William Shakespeare, uses the soliloquy technique in his famous playwright, The Tragedy of Macbeth. We will write a custom essay sample on Macbeth Literary Analysis or any similar topic only for you Order Now In this tragedy, many of Shakespeare’s soliloquies target around Macbeth, revealing important aspects about himself. The first soliloquy expresses Macbeth’s conscience, â€Å"indecision, and his fierce inner conflict† (Richard 383). He is dealing with the internal conflict of â€Å"pity and horror at killing the virtuous Duncan† (Jorgensen 8:90). In this soliloquy, Shakespeare defines Macbeth’s agonizing imagination: â€Å"Besides, this Duncan/ Hath born his faculties so meek, hath been/ So clear in his great office, that his virtues/ will plead like angels trumpet-tongued against/ The deep damnation of his taking-off;/ And pity, like a naked newborn babe,/ Striding the blast, or heaven’s cherubin horsed/ Upon the slightest couriers of the air,/ Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye,/ That tears shall drown the wind† (Shakespeare I:7:16-25). This best describes Macbeth as being directed into conflicts by prophesies of the three witches. Macbeth is a grief-stricken man with a wounded heart that is bleeding for someone else. The second soliloquy is found in the beginning of Act II, where Macbeth is seen alone with a â€Å"dagger† in his hand. Macbeth is giving into evil and the â€Å"terror in his soul and his inability to recover his lost innocence† (Richard 383) is revealed. He lets the illusion of the dagger affect him greatly by talking about satanic images of witchcraft. Shakespeare verbalizes the evil spirits as he goes on to write: â€Å"†¦witchcraft celebrates/ Pale Hecate’s offerings, and withered murder,/ Alarmed by his sentinel, the wolf,/ Whose howl’s his watch, thus with his stealthy pace,/ With Tarquin’s ravishing strides, towards his design/ Moves like a ghost† (Shakespeare: II:2:51-56). Mabillard sums up the quoted soliloquy by documenting: â€Å"Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft and a strong presence in Macbeth, is preparing her acrificial victims, and Murder himself, called by his trustful watchman, the wolf, moves with the power and speed of evil king Tarquin near his prey† (Mabillard). The witchery turns Macbeth into an evil murderer. Lastly, there is another one of Shakespeare’s soliloquies that describes Macbeth. Jorgensen explains what is happening pertaining to this soliloquy: â€Å"Macbeth becomes king. But the ‘settled’ is deeply ironic, for he will be more driven in re stless ecstasy to seek final security† (Jorgensen 8:91). This meditative kind of speech can be found in the beginning of Act III, where Macbeth specifies his own great loss: â€Å"For Banquo’s issue have I filed any mind;/ For them the gracious Duncan have I murdered;/ Put rancors in the vessel of my own peace/ Only for them, and mine eternal jewel/ Given to the common enemy of man,/ To make them kings, the seeds of Banquo kings! † (Shakespeare III:1:65-70). The killings lead Macbeth into â€Å"being accommodated to his murderous career† (Richard 383). Richard Sime also states that: â€Å"This suffering Macbeth is experiencing describes the person Macbeth has become† (Richard 383). At this point, the evil in Macbeth has definitely outweighed the good. Without Shakespeare’s choice of technique, the audience will not fully understand what Macbeth does to become who he is. The reader can see how Macbeth’s character changes throughout the period of time by seeing and hearing the feelings revealed by the use of soliloquies. Therefore, in Macbeth, â€Å"the inner spiritual catastrophe parallels the outer physical catastrophe† (Richard 383). How to cite Macbeth Literary Analysis, Papers

Act one scenes one and two Essay Example For Students

Act one scenes one and two Essay The opening scenes of Hamlet tell us a lot about the play. This is done through the use of language, literary devices, pace, structure and historical, social and cultural references. I will be discussing how scenes one and two of act 1 affect the audience and their preconception of the rest of play. The first scene of many Shakespeare plays sets the scene. In Romeo and Juliet there was a monolog that described some of the background story behind the contents of the play, and in Hamlet the first scene sets the audience up for seconds scene, were the story actually starts. This scene, instead of supplying us with a lot of background information, gives the audience narrative elements that makes us more want to read on. The most oblivious of these is the ghost. Peace, break thee off. Look where it comes again! In the same figure like the King thats dead. Even without the knowledge of who the ghost represents, the sheer presence of a spectre this early in a play make you want to read on, to find out why theres a ghost. Of course, the character who represents the ghost is incredible important to the plot. This is shown though the quote above identifying him as a dead king. From social and historical contexts, the idea of a king, thought of as one down from god himself, stuck in purgatory (which is what the Elizabethans thought was meant when u were a ghost) must have been intriguing to say the least. This scene also sets the scene because the protagonist of the play is absent, which sets the scene around him. This scene also shows us that the dead Kings son is Hamlet. Let us impart what we have seen tonight Unto young Hamlet This tells us that Hamlet at the moment should be the King. The second scene also does a lot for the setting, but also develops the plot and the characters. The King plays a major part in the second scene, and we get a big incite into his character. He opens the scene with a speech to those present at his court. It shows us that the present King was the old Kings brother, not his son. Through yet of Hamlet our brothers death This shows us that the Kings death is known, and Hamlet is aware of it. This now begs the question why isnt Hamlet the King. One part of this shows us that whatever dubious methods he might of used to get the throne, he is actually a good king. and we dispatch You good Cornelius, and you Valtemand For bearers of this greeting to old Norway; This tell us that The King is going to try and use a diplomatic approach to war, by sending to ambassadors to a nearby country of the enemys to try and help prevent the was altogether. It also give us some incite into the position of the new Queen, Hamlets mother. This means Hamlets mother married his father, The King, and when he died, married the dead Kings brother who became King. Therefore our sometimes sister, now our Queen This leads us to an incestuous relationship in the family. The Queens power, unlike what her position as a woman would suggest, is not unimportant. The King describes her: Th imperial jointress to this warlike state. This declares to his court that the Queens influence, is as greatly valued as the Kings advisors, she has joint power. This can draw instant comparisons with Lady Macbeth form Macbeth. Both desire power and both hold a considerable sway over there husbands. Scene two is where are protagonist first speaks. .uec48688e5ee326819d24573ad28baa53 , .uec48688e5ee326819d24573ad28baa53 .postImageUrl , .uec48688e5ee326819d24573ad28baa53 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uec48688e5ee326819d24573ad28baa53 , .uec48688e5ee326819d24573ad28baa53:hover , .uec48688e5ee326819d24573ad28baa53:visited , .uec48688e5ee326819d24573ad28baa53:active { border:0!important; } .uec48688e5ee326819d24573ad28baa53 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uec48688e5ee326819d24573ad28baa53 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uec48688e5ee326819d24573ad28baa53:active , .uec48688e5ee326819d24573ad28baa53:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uec48688e5ee326819d24573ad28baa53 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uec48688e5ee326819d24573ad28baa53 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uec48688e5ee326819d24573ad28baa53 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uec48688e5ee326819d24573ad28baa53 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uec48688e5ee326819d24573ad28baa53:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uec48688e5ee326819d24573ad28baa53 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uec48688e5ee326819d24573ad28baa53 .uec48688e5ee326819d24573ad28baa53-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uec48688e5ee326819d24573ad28baa53:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Antigone And Creon EssayFrom what he says, he still feels the loss of his father. When he refers to Hamlet as my cousin and my son (another side of an incestuous relationship), Hamlet reacts. A little more than kin, and less than kind. This response tells the audience that Hamlet sees himself as nothing like his uncle (father in law) and this may create tension between the two later in the play. Hamlets feelings at this time are greater explored later in the scene, in his soliloquy. This also shows the audience the full extent of Hamlets melon collie.