How were the duties of the US Supreme Court justices developed?

Answer 1

The Judiciary Act of 1789 created a Supreme Court with one Chief Justice and five Associate Justices who were to be appointed by the US President, by and with the consent of the Senate, per constitutional mandate.

The Act also established thirteen District Courts, which heard small civil suits and minor crimes, within three Federal Circuits. Three Circuit Courts had original jurisdiction over serious federal criminal cases, and appellate jurisdiction over cases heard in the District Courts. The six US Supreme Court justices were responsible for "riding circuit" twice a year, traveling in pairs, and hearing cases as appellate judges. Congress believed this would help the Supreme Court justices stay in touch with local concerns.

A typical Circuit ride was 1,800 miles round-trip, which presented a severe hardship to the justices, who frequently worked and traveled 18 or 19 hours a day, and followed a complex schedule that required appearances in specified districts on specified days. The justices could also be called upon to sit for criminal trials that were scheduled as the need arose.

Section 13 of the Judiciary Act, which the Marshall Court later voided as unconstitutional, enumerated the types of cases over which the Court had original jurisdiction as described in the Constitution, with the exception of changes made by the Eleventh Amendment and the addition of empowering the Court to issue writs of mandamus to US government officials:

SEC. 13. And be it further enacted, That the Supreme Court shall have exclusive jurisdiction of all controversies of a civil nature, where a state is a party, except between a state and its citizens; and except also between a state and citizens of other states, or aliens, in which latter case it shall have original but not exclusive jurisdiction. And shall have exclusively all such jurisdiction of suits or proceedings against ambassadors, or other public ministers, or their domestics, or domestic servants, as a court of law can have or exercise consistently with the law of nations; and original, but not exclusive jurisdiction of all suits brought by ambassadors, or other public ministers, or in which a consul, or vice consul, shall be a party. And the trial of issues in fact in the Supreme Court, in all actions at law against citizens of the United States, shall be by jury. The Supreme Court shall also have appellate jurisdiction from the circuit courts and courts of the several states, in the cases herein after specially provided for; and shall have power to issue writs of prohibition to the district courts, when proceeding as courts of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction, and writs of mandamus, in cases warranted by the principles and usages of law, to any courts appointed, or persons holding office, under the authority of the United States.

Congress also authorized both the Supreme Court justices and federal judges to issue writs of habeas corpus, to entertain other motions, and perform administrative tasks common to conducting court business.

Finally, the Supreme Court was to convene in the nation's capital twice per year, on the first Monday or February and the first Monday of August to hear cases under appellate jurisdiction.


To read the full text of the Judiciary Act of 1789, see Related Links, below.

Answer 2

General Duties of the Supreme Court:Leads the Judicial branch of the Federal government. Wich interprets the Constitution. That Interprets the law. And that evaluates constitutionality of challenged laws and the supreme court Settles disputes between the states. The supreme court hears cases involving the constitution and Federal Laws on appeal.

The Duties of the Chief Justice: they are the head of the us supreme court. The chief justice is also head of the federal judiciary. The chief justice is the head of the judicial conference of the US (the administrative body of the federal judiciary). The chief justices can appoint federal judges to US Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (per 50 § 1803) they appoint members of judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation. Then Acts as Chancellor of the Smithsonian Institute. Then that Sits on Board of National Gallery of Art and Hirshorn Museum. Then the chief justice Supervises acquisition of books for Library of Congress Law Library. Then appoints Director of Administrative Office, which coordinates federal court administration. Then the Director of Administrative Office acts as official spokesman for the Judicial branch. Then the Director of Administrative Office writes annual report to Congress on the state of the federal court system. Then Presides over the Senate trial of Presidential impeachment, or impeachment of a Vice-President when acting President. Then the 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 are discused. Then all Justices Reads briefs, case law, legal literature, statutes and precedents for each case before the Court. Then they all Participate in conferences and meetings regarding petitions for writ of certiorari, case decisions, etc. Then all Justices vote on petitions and decisions. All justices Write and/or edits opinions. Then all justices hire and supervises law clerks. Then assigns legal research to clerks and other staff members. All justices listensto 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)

Answer 3

Many of the duties and responsibilities of the US Supreme Court are not explicitly written in the Constitution, but can be inferred from the language describing the role of the federal courts and their jurisdiction. The majority of rules and traditions developed from other sources. The Judiciary Act of 1789 created some obligations (such as riding circuit), as have subsequent acts of Congress. The Supreme Court developed many of its own rules; others arose from tradition and the practices of British and earlier American courts.

Some of the justices' responsibilities are documented both directly and indirectly in the Rules of the Supreme Court of the United States (see Related Links).