The Supreme Court of the United States

• Pages: 65-66

65

JUDICIAL BRANCH

THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES

United States Supreme Court Building, One First Street NE., Washington, DC 20543

Phone, 202–479–3000. Internet, http://www.supremecourt.gov.

Members

Chief Justice of the United States JOHN G. ROBERTS,JR.

Associate Justices ANTONIN SCALIA,ANTHONY M.

KENNEDY,CLARENCE THOMAS,

RUTH BADER GINSBURG,STEPHEN

G. BREYER,SAMUEL A. ALITO,JR.,

SONIA SOTOMAYOR,ELENA KAGAN

Off‌icers

Counselor to the Chief Justice JEFFREY P. MINEAR

Clerk WILLIAM K. SUTER

Legal Off‌icer SCOTT S. HARRIS

Curator CATHERINE E. FITTS

Director of Data Systems (VACANCY)

Librarian JUDITH GASKELL

Marshal PAMELA TALKIN

Public Information Off‌icer KATHLEEN L. ARBERG

Reporter of Decisions FRANK D. WAGNER

Article III, section 1, of the Constitution of the United States provides that “[t]he

judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such

inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish.”

The Supreme Court of the United

States was created in accordance with

this provision and by authority of the

Judiciary Act of September 24, 1789 (1

Stat. 73). It was organized on February

2, 1790. Article III, section 2 of the

Constitution def‌ines the jurisdiction of the

Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court is comprised of

the Chief Justice of the United States

and such number of Associate Justices

as may be f‌ixed by Congress, which is

currently f‌ixed at eight (28 U.S.C. 1). The

President nominates the Justices with the

advice and consent of the Senate. Article

III, section 1, of the Constitution further

provides that “[t]he Judges, both of the

supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold

their Off‌ices during good Behaviour,

and shall, at stated Times, receive for

their Services, a Compensation, which

shall not be diminished during their

Continuance in Off‌ice.”

Court off‌icers assist the Court in the

performance of its functions. They

include the Counselor to the Chief

Justice, the Clerk, the Reporter of

Decisions, the Librarian, the Marshal, the

Legal Off‌icer, the Curator, the Director of

Data Systems, and the Public Information

Off‌icer.

Appellate Jurisdiction Appellate

jurisdiction has been conferred upon

the Supreme Court by various statutes