Justice Biographies
This justice was the first female appointed to the Supreme Court.
Who was Sandra Day O'Connor?
This Amendment reminds us that "the enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people."
What is the 9th Amendment?
The name of at least one case in which a justice (majority, concurrence, or dissent) used "substantive due process" reasoning?
What is Griswold, Rodriguez, in re Helco?
A latin term that means "to stand by things decided."
What is stare decisis?
(Stare decisis et non quieta movere—stand by the thing decided and do not disturb the calm
This person is responsible for opening the door to the Supreme Court conference meeting and for ordering food.
The junior-most justice.
(Stephen Breyer: 1994-2006)
This justice was the first African-American appointed to the Supreme Court.
Who was Thurgood Marshall?
The constitutional amendment that repealed Prohibition. Cheers!
What is the 21st Amendment?
This infamous case established the "separate but equal" doctrine.
What is Plessy v. Fergusson (1896)?
The number of SCOTUS justices that must agree to hear a case.
What is four?
(Writ of Certiorari: The Rule of Four)
Limerick riddle:
The framers’ intent is the guide,
In this method where strict rules abide.
With history's glance, We give laws a chance,
To be read as the founders implied.
What is originalism?
The only person to ever serve as the President of the United States and the Chief Justice (or any justice) of the United States.
Who was William Howard Taft?
(27th President, 1909-1913, 10th Chief Justice, 1921-1930)
The set of constitutional amendments that are often considered “a second founding” for the United States.
What are the Reconstruction Amendments: Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments?
In this 2013 case, the Supreme Court overturned section 4 (preclearance formula) of the Voting Rights Act.
What is Shelby County v. Holder?
The method of judicial interpretation that focuses on applying rules or tests from previous cases.
What is doctrinalism?
The label of cases that go directly to the Supreme Court rather than being heard on appeal.
What is Original Jurisdiction?
The fourth Chief Justice of the United States, often seen as the greatest Chief Justice. (1800-1835)
Who was John Marshall?
The amendment and clause in question in the Kelo v. New London case.
What is the Fifth Amendment's Takings Clause?
The SCOTUS case from which the following quote was taken: “If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion."
What is West Virginia v. Barnette (1943)?
The doctrine that argues that the Court should seek to defer to the legislature whenever possible.
What is judicial restraint?
(Or, what is judicial minimalism?)
The basis or foundation of the power of judicial review.
What is the power to interpret law?
(Or some variant: judges must interpret law and the constitution is the foundational law.)
This Justice took a leave of absence from the Supreme Court to be the Chief Prosecutor for the Nuremberg War Crime Trials (1945-1946).
Who was Robert Jackson?
(Alt: Who was the last Justice who did not have a law school degree?)
This Amendment had the longest time between its first being proposed and it finally being ratified.
What is the 27th Amendment? (Proposed and partially ratified in 1789, fully ratified in 1992)
What strategic litigation groups bring to the Supreme Court to establish new precedent?
(Partial points 250: Name two such cases that we covered)
What is a test case?
(Plessy v. Fergusson, Sweat v. Painter, Griswold v. Connecticut)
The name for a controlling opinion in a case that does not have a majority (5) of the justices supporting it.
What is a plurality opinion?
The names of all NINE justices currently on the Supreme Court.
(Partial points: 50 per 2 justices)
Who are John Roberts, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Neal Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett, and Ketanji Brown Jackson?