The Early History of The Supreme Court of The United States of America

Image via Wikipedia  :The Supreme Court of the United States of America

Tracing the history of an institution is always quite interesting business.The Supreme Court of the United States of America is no exception.

The Supreme Court of the United States of America, also commonly known as Federal Court, in its acronym is SCOTUS.

The Supreme Court of the United States of America was created by the Constitutional convention of 1787 as the head of the Federal Court system. However, it was not formally established, until the Judiciary Act was enacted in the year, 1789.

While the Supreme Court of the United States of America was the only court created by its constitution, all the Federal Courts had been created by the congress.

The Supreme Court of the United States of America was formally established when the Judiciary Act was passed by the Congress in the year, 1789.The Judiciary Act of 1789 was so comprehensive that envisaged detailed provisions for the establishment of the Supreme Court of United States of America, appointment of judges, their tenure and retirement and on the specific jurisdiction of the highest court.

The appointment judges and their tenure:

The act has stipulated that the Supreme Court should have a strength varying between 6 to 10 judges. Accordingly, Justice .John Jay was appointed as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and 5 other associate judges were appointed initially.The Judges are to be appointed by the President of the US and the appointment is to be confirmed by the Senate of the US by way of majority vote. From the year 1869 onwards the Supreme Court of the United States of America has had a Chief Justice and nine other Associate Judges. The judges are appointed for their life during their good will and the post of a judge becomes vacant, when he or she retires,dies, resigns, impeached and removed on the charges of corruption.

Image via Wikipedia  :John Jay, the First Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the U.S

Image via Wikipedia : Roberts , the present Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the U.S

The Jurisdiction and Powers of the Supreme Court :

The jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the United States of America has been limited by Article III of the Constitution of the U.S to cases and controversies arising under the federal law.The Judiciary Act, 1789 also specifically deals with the powers and jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the U.S.

1. The Supreme Court has to act in cases arising under the constitution, laws and treaties of the U.S.
2. In matters of controversies in which the United States is a party.
3. In matters of controversies between states or between citizens of different states.
4. In case of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction.
5. In cases affecting ambassadors, ministers or consuls.

But the US Supreme Court has no jurisdiction to decide the case of an independent and adequate state ground.

From the above details, it may be inferred that the Supreme Court of the U.S has little original jurisdiction and it is mostly appellate or certiorari.

Apart from that among the most important doctrinal sources dealt with by the Supreme Court of the U.S are on commerce, due process of law and equal protection. Besides, much of its work involved in dealing with civil liberties, freedom of the press and the right of privacy. The work of the Supreme Court of India also consists of clarifying, refining and testing the philosophic ideals and translates them into working principles.

Rule making powers of the Supreme Court of the United States of America:

The Supreme Court is also to prescribe rules of procedure. The court has promulgated rules that govern civil and criminal cases in the District Courts, bankruptcy procedure, admiralty cases, copy right cases and appellate proceedings.

The First sitting of the Supreme Court of the United States of America:

On the First Day of February, 1790, the Supreme Court of the United States of America had its first sitting in the Merchants Exchange Building of the New York City, the former capital of the U.S.

However, since the Supreme Court of the United States of America lacked a home of its own, it did not enjoy the real prestige initially.

The first case dealt with by the Supreme Court of U.S was also rather a simple matter involving only a procedural issue.

Between the periods, 1789 and 1801, the Supreme Court of the United States of America during the tenure of its first three chief Justices, it had its home in the New York City, then in Philadelphia and then moved to the present permanent building in the year 1801 in Washington D.C.

However, it remains the final judicial authority in the U.S system of Government.