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General Duties of the Supreme Court

  • Leads the Judicial branch of the Federal government
  • Interprets the Constitution
  • Interprets law
  • Evaluates constitutionality of challenged laws
  • Settles disputes between the states
  • Hears cases involving the constitution and federal laws on appeal

Duties of the Chief Justice

  • Heads US Supreme Court
  • Heads Federal Judiciary
  • Heads Judicial Conference of the US (the administrative body of the federal judiciary)
  • Appoints federal judges to US Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (per 50 USC § 1803)
  • Appoints members of Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation
  • Acts as Chancellor of the Smithsonian Institute
  • Sits on Board of National Gallery of Art and Hirshorn Museum
  • Supervises acquisition of books for Library of Congress Law Library
  • Appoints Director of Administrative Office, which coordinates federal court administration
  • Acts as official spokesman for the Judicial branch
  • Writes annual report to Congress on the state of the federal court system
  • Presides over the Senate trial of Presidential impeachment, or impeachment of a Vice-President when acting President
  • Sets agenda for Supreme Court conferences and meetings
  • Administers the Presidential Oath of Office (by tradition, not law)
  • Assigns writing of opinions, if a member of majority decision
  • Reviews emergency petitions, motions and applications for the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, Fourth Circuit, and Federal Circuit
  • Chief administrative officer of the Court

Duties of All Justices

  • Reads briefs, case law, legal literature, statutes and precedents for each case before the Court
  • Participates in conferences and meetings regarding petitions for writ of certiorari, case decisions, etc.
  • Votes on petitions and decisions
  • Writes and/or edits opinions
  • Hires and supervises law clerks
  • Assigns legal research to clerks and other staff members
  • Listens to oral arguments
  • Reviews emergency petitions, motions and applications for assigned Circuit Court
  • Answers certificates (this practice is all but extinct; the last certificate granted was in 1982)
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13y ago

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