Photo:NPR
The Supreme Court has always had a daunting job as they bridge the gap between the the voice of the people and the law itself.
The American people give the Supreme Court power by sending in petitions on their most pressing issues in hopes that the Supreme Court will decide to try the case, and at best case set a presadent.
However because the high influx of petitions on social issues and possible right violations the Supreme Court can’t possibly try every single one of them. Additionally, this is before you even factor in all the cases that have made it though the Appellate Court of convicted people who are fighting to have their case decisions changed.
Photo: Global Document Service
The video was able to shed light on a more insider perspective of what goes on in the Supreme Court. By getting to hear from a few of the justices themselves it allowed for a new perspective on certain issues.
For instance a common thought among the people is that if a petition is sent to the Supreme Court and they decide not to hear the case that it means that they don’t agree or support the cause.
However, the justices mentioned that that is not often the case, they have so many cases to try in such a short amount of time so there is no possible way that they can review every case that comes across their desk.
So truthfully by them not taking a case that means that they have made no decisions for or against the case it just simply won’t be heard.
However, through hearing about the supreme courts procedures that they follow though out their day it really gives the impression that they try above all else to maintain a certain level of respect for one another. During the video one of the justices spoke about the importance of giving every justice a handshake before they begin.
Such a simple act at first appears to have no bearing on your felling towards someone while you’re debating over extremely important subject matter. However, it allows the justices to take a moment and humanize each of their colleagues.
Photo: Nebraska Judicial Branch
Now knowing a lot more about the way that the supreme court works and the way that they decide to handle cases it make me think a lot more about some of their past cases. One in particular being Miranda vs. Arizona in 1966 which is a case that still effects our legal system today.
The case highlights the importance of the offender’s rights which is something that is often not thought about. In March of 1963 Ernesto Miranda was arrested for the Kidnapping and Rape of a young woman who was able to identify him in a line up.
Photo: The Hardy Law Firm
Although he ended up confessing after being interrogated for quite a bit of time something that would later be called into question. However he was unaware of an offenders right to remain silent.
He ended up being convicted of the crime in June of 1963, but shortly afterwards he appealed the decision in 1965 due to his ignorance of the fifth and sixth amendment. So this is what started the case being sent all the way up to the Supreme Court.
Photo: History.com
The Supreme Court ended up siding with Ernesto Miranda in 1966 stating that his sixth amendment rights had been violated.
Because of this case police officers now have to Mirandize people before they put them under arrest which informs the person of their fifth and sixth amendment rights.
So in cases where a person is not read their Miranda Rights the person may have a case to get their charges dropped since it is now a part of police procedure.
Photo: Andres Mejer Law
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