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==The Early Court==
[[File:Jay.jpg|thumb|Figure 1.John Jay was the first Chief Justice and heard the first case presented before the Court.]]
The Supreme Court opened its first session in February 1790 in New York City, the then capital of the United States. Later in 1790, it moved to Philadelphia, which also became the capital, where the court met in Independence Hall. Initially, the court was made up of six justices, where it was envisioned that a two-thirds majority would be needed for any decision. The court did not have a permanent nine members until 1869, when that number was established as precedent. The justices were given lifetime appointments because it was seen as a way to avoid them being influenced by a sitting president. The first case to be litigated before the court, <i>West v. Barnes</i>, involved procedural issues, in particular, the procedures of appeal. There were few major cases in the 1790s and the court lacked a permanent home. The first major case was <i>Chisholm v. Georgia</i>, which saw Chisholm sue the state of Georgia. The case influenced the 11th Amendment to the Constitution, which allowed individuals to sue states based on state consent (Figure 1).<ref>For more on the forming of the first Supreme Court, see: Casto, W. R. (2013). <i>The Supreme Court in the early republic: the chief justiceships of John Jay and Oliver Ellsworth</i>. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press.</ref>
The most influential figure in the early Supreme Court opened its first session in February 1790 in New York City, was justice John Marshal (1801-1835. This was the period when the then capital concept of judicial review became an established precedent that has influenced subsequent acts by the United StatesCourt to review legislation as they come up. Later in 1790Arguably, it moved the Supreme Court developed more into something more similar to Philadelphiaits modern form during the Marshal years. For instance, which also the concept of a review of Constitutional issues became fully established by this time and many practices, including issuing a single majority opinion by the capitalCourt, where became established during this time. One influential case was the court met in Independence Hallimpeachment of Justice Samuel Chase. Initially, the court He was made up accused of six justices, where it was envisioned partisan bias and the case that involved his impeachment influenced and shaped the idea that a two-thirds majority would the Supreme Court must be needed for any decisionkept an independent part of the government. The first case In effect, the Court attempted to make a more complete break from partisan politics and established a precedent to be litigated before an independent reviewer of legislation and judgment of following the laws of the court, <i>West vUnited States. Barnes</iref>For more on the Marshal Court, involved procedural issues, in particularsee: Brookhiser, the procedures of appealR. There were few major cases in the 1790s and the court lacked a permanent home(2018). The first major case was <i>Chisholm v. GeorgiaJohn Marshall: the man who made the Supreme Court</i>, which saw Chisholm sue the state of Georgia. The case influenced the 11th Amendment to the Constitution, which allowed individuals to sue states based on state consentNew York: Basic Books. </ref>
==The Early 20th CenturyCold War Court==The in earliest years Earl Warren, Chief Justice from 1953-1969, led perhaps the most influential period that enhanced a series of civil liberties. One of the most famous cases was <i> Brown v. Board of Education</i> which began the 20th century, free speech long process of desegregation in public schools and influenced desegregation in general across the 1st Amendment were not well established and United States (Figure 2). Additionally, <i>Reynolds v. Sims </i> forced states did ban certain publicationsto reapportion their legislatures according to changing populations. The Thus, districts have to be somewhat equal as to how they apportioned representation. Previously, low population places could be used to influence the legislative process, which in the South had led to restrictive laws against African Americans. Also, the role of religion in schools was severely limited by the case of <i>Gitlow Engel v. New YorkVitale</i>. Another landmark case was <i>Gideon v. Wainwright</i> in 1925 established more clear guidelines as to what constituted free speech and protection , which required, under the 1st 6th Amendment. This case greatly restricted the powers of , states to suppress publications or speech by individualsappoint an attorney for defendants in criminal cases. The Miranda rights, which are given in cases where police detain a suspect, were also a result of the <i>Adkins Miranda v. Children's HospitalArizona</i> case in 1923 first established precedent , another landmark that has greatly influenced the criminal justice system.<ref>For more on due process the Warren Court, see: Newton, J. (2014). <i>Justice for all: Earl Warren and the nation he made.</i> Penguin Publishing Grou. </ref> The court, arguably, took a more conservative turn in the 5th Amendment1970s under the Burger court, that existed until 1986. Nevertheless, one of the most landmark cases, protecting further <i>Roe v. Wade</i> protected individuals' rights to abortion and prevented states from states or organizations creating restrictive laws against abortion access and upheld affirmative action in <i>University of California v. Bakke</i>. It still remains one of the most polarizing decisions by the Supreme Court. The Court, however, struck down earlier cases that infringed on those limited campaign finance in <i>Buckley v. Valeo</i>. The Rehnquist Court, from 1986-2005, generally upheld individual rights, such as <i>Lawrence v. Texas</i> that struck down Texas' sodomy law. The most controversial decision was its involvement in the 2000 election in <i> Bush v. In Gore</i> that ended the 1930s to 1953 saw a substantial number recount of the election. The court , under Chief Justice John Roberts, is seen as generally being conservative, but key decisions that sided with such as <i>United States v. Windsor</i> led to the federal government and decision that enhanced government powers. This included granting greater power for Roosevelt to apply part of the New Deal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) legislation he had worked was unconstitutional and gay and lesbian couples cannot be discriminated on in relation to pass benefits and rights in cases where they are married.<ref>For more on Burger and the 1930slater courts, see: Greenhouse, L. (2012). <i>The U.S. Supreme Court: a very short introduction</i>. New York: Oxford University Press. </ref> The court was instrumental main controversies today in upholding the government's power to intern Japanese-American citizensSupreme Court, interestingly, arguably a complete reversal are not different from one of earlier decisions that the first impeachments in the United States, which had enhanced civil rightsto do with a Justice being perceived as being politically influenced. There are clear and well documents cases where Justices were not impartial, such as in the Dredd Scott case. The two major crisesHowever, the Great Depression topic itself remains contentious and World War IIthe recent appointment of Brett Kavanaugh and the process of his appointing support this. Nevertheless, may have influenced court action to face these crises repeatedly judges nominated by giving left-leaning or right-leaning presidents often do not follow their perceived political bent, perhaps indicating that the federal government greater powersCourt has at times maintained a level of independence as envisioned early in its history.<ref>For more on the partial leanings of the Court, see: Baum, L. (2017). <i>Ideology in the Supreme Court</i>. New Jersey: Princeton University Press.</ref>
==Summary==
The Supreme Court has had a major influence on the United States, often upholding or often reversing legislation passed by Congress. At times, the Court shaped events, including war and individual rights, and at other times they helped catalyzed social change, perhaps faster than it would have been otherwise, by enabling rights such as in <i>Brown v. Board of Education</i>. The Constitution left many ideas about the Court open and these have been continually interpreted and applied differently during the history of the United States.
==References==
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