Can the impeachment of Joseph Estrada be held in the US Supreme Court?

Answer 1

No. Article I of the Constitution grants Congress authority for the impeachment process.

Article I, Section 2, gives the sole power of impeachment, which is the indictment phase, to the House of Representatives:

"The House of Representatives shall choose their speaker and other officers; and shall have the sole power of impeachment."

Article I, Section 3, assigns the trial phase to the Senate:

"The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. When sitting for that purpose, they shall be on oath or affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two thirds of the members present.

"Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States: but the party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment and punishment, according to law."

The Supreme Court plays no role in the impeachment process unless the person being impeached is the US President. Under these circumstances, the Chief Justice of the United States (Supreme Court) presides over the Senate trial. In all other trials, the presiding officer of the Senate chooses a committee of three Senators to act as judges. The full Senate serves as the jury.