The Process of Making Supreme Court Decisions
Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan explained the process in which the Supreme Court makes decisions. She discussed how Justices spend their time and how cases are decided.
Description
Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan explained the process in which the Supreme Court makes decisions. She reviewed the steps of a case including hearing the case, the conference, voting and assigning the majority and dissenting opinions.
Bell Ringer Assignment
- How do Supreme Court Justices spend most of their time?
- What is the first step in deciding Supreme Court cases?
- Explain how the conference works when deciding a Supreme Court case?
- How can debate and discussion amongst the justices impact the final decision in a Supreme Court case?
- Explain how the final decision is decided. How do they decide who writes the majority and dissenting opinions?
- How does the seniority of the justices play into the process of deciding a Supreme Court case?
Additional Resources
Participants
Vocabulary
- Associate Justice
- Chief Justice
- Clerk
- Dissenting Opinion
- Majority Opinion
- Supreme Court