This is the start of the constitution of the United States, which shows us that the sovereignty of the country lies in the will of the people. Is it really true, by the way?
Let me break down the court structure of the US, which comprises federal and district courts. Basically, we have three types of courts that are:
°The US Supreme Court
°Circuit Courts or Court of Appeals
°District Courts
As the name suggests, the US Supreme Court has jurisdiction over the whole country, while there are 13 Circuit Courts, and their jurisdiction is divided between the states. The District Courts are the most commonly accessible courts, like the Civil/Sessions Court in Pakistan.
You would be surprised to know that approximately 7000-8000 appeals are filed in the US Supreme Court annually, but only 70-80 are accepted by the judicial committee to be heard.
As far as justices of the US Supreme Court are concerned, there are a total of 9 justices there, having a Chief Justice and 8 associate justices.
Their appointment is duly done by the President of the United States and ratified by the Senate. The judges in the US, including the Supreme Court, serve for life, provided they have good behavior according to the Constitution. The removal of any judge could be done by the Senate or by death or resignation.
The judicial branch in the US holds a significant position in paving the laws by judgments and precedents. Article 3 of the constitution deals with the Judicial Department.
The judiciary has been a significant place where both positive and negative developments took place in the past.
If we discuss the landmark judgments that enormously affected the future of the US, it includes:
° Marbury v. Madison
°Plessy v. Ferguson
°Brown v. Board of Education
°Roe v. Wade
¶ Marbury v. Madison paved the way for “judicial review,” which made the US Supreme Court the last resort to challenge any law made by Congress.
Marbury v. Madison
Facts:
In this case, outgoing President John Adams appointed some Federalist judges known as “Midnight Judges,” but their commission was not effected at that time.
Now the new Republican-Democrat president, Thomas Jefferson, and his secretary of state, James Madison, refused to effect the commission of those Federalist judges.
William Marbury challenged that move in the US Supreme Court based on the Judiciary Act of 1789.
Decision:
The US Supreme Court decided in favor of James Madison, and appointment was effected; further, it declared the Judiciary Act of 1789 as null and void, and that was the very first time the Supreme Court declared any law made by Congress as unconstitutional, which paved the way for “Judicial Review”.
¶ Plessy v. Ferguson was a dark and negative judgment of the US Supreme Court, which legalized “racial “segregation” in the country
Plessy v. Ferguson
Facts:
In this case, there was a brown citizen named Homer Plessy who lived in Louisiana. According to Louisiana law, there were separate trains for Blacks and whites to travel.
Plessy, being brown, chose the white train to travel but was arrested for violating Louisiana segregation law.
Plessy challenges this move in the US Supreme Court on the basis of the 13th and 14th amendments of Abolishing Slavery and Equality before Law.
Decision:
The Supreme Court, by 7-1, decided against Homer Plessy and declared that “separate but equal” is not unconditional.
¶ Brown v/s Board of Education was a landmark judgment which overturned Plessy v/s Ferguson and the doctrine of “Separate but Equal” was declared unconditional under 14th amendment.
Brown v. Board of Education
Facts:-
Under the decision of Plessy v/s Ferguson, there were separate public schools for black and white citizens.
Linda Brown a black citizen was denied admission by a white public school.
They challenged that on basis of 14th amendment of “Equality before Law”
Decision:-
The US Supreme Court decided in favor of Linda Brown and overturned Plessy v/s Ferguson.
It discouraged the doctrine of “ Separate but Equal “ and declared that it was again the 14th amendment.
¶ Roe v. Wade was and is a very controversial ruling of the US Supreme Court that declared abortion legal and a constitutional right of women. Its spike was obvious in the 2024 US presidential election as well.
Roe v. Wade
Facts:
A Texas citizen, Jane Roe was disallowed to get an abortion under a state of Texas law that prohibited abortion.
She challenged that law in the US Supreme Court on the basis of the 14th Amendment clause of due process and called upon abortion as a universal and constitutional right of women. The case was brought against Texas county attorney Henry Wade.
Decision:
The Supreme Court gave a 7-2 decision declaring abortion as legal and constitutional.
This judgment was overturned in 2022 by Dobbs v. Jackson, in which the US Supreme Court declared that the constitution doesn’t confer the right of abortion and empowered the states to regulate or entirely ban abortion.
The concept of “Separation of Powers” is duly maintained in the US, as three of the bodies remain a power of check and balance over the other two.
The judiciary plays a crucial role in maintaining it by following the principle of judicial review by declaring the laws made by Congress as unconditional and also deciding the results of presidential elections as well. As we witnessed in 2000 when President Bush was declared victorious by the Supreme Court against Al Gore when it stopped the recounting in Florida and declared it unconstitutional and against the Equal Protection clause of the 14th amendment.
This decision of the US Supreme Court wholly changed the future of the US, as President Bush did many immoral activities, such as invading Iraq and Syria, which might not have happened under Al Gore.
State Courts vs. Federal Courts:
You would be surprised to know that each of the states in the US has its own constitutional statute and separate trial, appeal, and supreme courts implementing that statute. These courts deal with all the issues like property matters, marriages, rapes, murders, etc. However, the federal courts override the state courts in every aspect
Conclusion:
The U.S. courts and legal system are built on a dual structure of federal and state courts, ensuring both local and national governance of justice. It operates through a three-cornered federal system, with the Supreme Court as the ultimate authority. The motto of judicial review safeguards the Constitution, while the common law principle ensures the deliverance of justice through precedents. This system guarantees fairness in resolving disputes, and the judiciary serves as a vital check on government power. State courts reflect the nation’s federalist nature, balancing state and federal law. The system effectively handles civil and criminal cases, provides accessible appeals, and ensures that legal errors are rectified, promoting justice and constitutional integrity.
Author
Junaid Tanveer
Member Pakistan Youth Parliament