Above the imposing doors of the United States Supreme Court in our nation’s capital appear the words “Equal Justice Under Law.” These four words encapsulate the aspiration of the federal judiciary to do justice to all who come before its courts regardless of their personal circumstances. These four words serve as a cornerstone of the American judicial system.
Throughout our history, the federal courts have strived to help make this country, composed of several sovereign states and disparate people, one nation. In doing so, they have sought to carry out the goal stated in our nation’s first motto: “E Pluribus Unum,” or in English, “Out of Many, One.”
February is Black History Month. This month we take the opportunity to celebrate the life and legacy of Thurgood Marshall, the first African American on the United States Supreme Court. Associate Justice Marshall’s remarkable career was defined by his unwavering commitment to civil rights, equality, and the principles of justice.
This past year, 2024, saw a fresh start and new beginnings for some of our citizens, since last year these new citizens took the final step to abandon their former national citizenship and become United States citizens.
Bill of Rights Day is Sunday, December 15, 2024. Although it is not a national holiday, it is nevertheless an important day of remembrance. We commemorate this date to mark the adoption of the Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution. This crucial document is one of the cornerstones of our representative democracy.
Courts are products of legal doctrine. A judge’s primary responsibility is to interpret and fairly apply the written law to the facts of each case. To this end, everyone knows judges are governed by a host of written statutes, as well as by precedent from previous cases decided by higher courts. Most people also know there are written rules of procedure and ethics judges must follow. But in the real world where there are nuanced and complex issues, the explicit statutes and cases may not provide all the answers. Written rules similarly cannot address every aspect of a judge’s behavior.
Federal Courts Have an Obligation to Decide Cases.
One of the most fundamental obligations of the federal courts is to decide the cases before them. This is implied from Article III, Section 2 of the Constitution, which provides that the court’s judicial power extends to cases and controversies. As one court stated: “a federal judge has a duty to sit where not disqualified which is equally as strong as the duty to not sit where disqualified.” Laird v. Tatum, 409 U.S. 824, 837 (1972) (Mem. of Rehnquist, J.) (collecting cases).
Tuesday, September 17, 2024, marks the 237th anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution. The United States Constitution is the world’s longest surviving written charter of government. It has served our nation and its people well over the past two centuries, even through a long and terrible civil war. And although it has served us well, like all human creations, it is not a perfect document. On the occasion of its anniversary, we think it helpful to briefly discuss some of the current sentiment for changing or amending the Constitution.
The Sixth Circuit Student Essay Contest was open to high school students (grades 9–12) enrolled in public, private, parochial, and charter schools and home-schooled students of equivalent grade status in the four states that comprise the Sixth Circuit (Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee).
