The Supreme Court The _______ Branch. The Supreme Court The Judicial Branch.
Nixon and the Supreme Court. Supreme Court Nine members Appointed by the President and Approved by...
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Transcript of Nixon and the Supreme Court. Supreme Court Nine members Appointed by the President and Approved by...
Nixon and the Supreme Court
Supreme Court
Nine membersAppointed by the President and Approved by the SenateJob – interpret the Constitution and decide on
the constitutionality of the lawsPerson in charge- chief justice- John RobertsFirst woman on SC- Sandra Day O’ConnorThree women on SC today
1950’s Chief Justice- Earl WarrenMost of Court had been appointed by
FDRoosevelt and TrumanLiberal leaning – interpreted the Constitution
“loosely” = “well… we think C means this …” Usually interpreted laws based on ideas of
change and improving societyExample- Brown vs. Board of Education“segregation of schools” – out
Other Court decisions
1965 – Griswold vs. Connecticut Court said that a state ( Conn in this case)
could not prohibit contraceptives
1964-1966 Escobedo Case and Miranda CaseCourt said that people that are arrested have
a right to know that anything they said could be used against them
“ Miranda warning” – aka reading of rights
Nixon wanted to change the liberal leaning Court
And some Conservatives wanted to impeach ( accuse) Chief Justice Warren of a crime … basically they did not agree with “left leaning” court
AH!! Warren retired !! Nixon gets to appoint a new Chief Justice- Warren
Burger and eventually 3 other Conservative judgesThese new justices would interpret the Constitution “strictly”- follow exactly what the Constitution says
Or so Nixon thought….
Before being appointed to the Court- judges often “seem” to have a certain view but once on the Court change
RESULT?? The Burger Court was often reluctant to overrule decisions of the Warren Court
1973
Court issues Roe v. Wade decision Which stated that abortion was legal in the
USA
Yikes!! A pro- choice decision/interpretation by a Conservative court.
Conservatives were shocked
Issue is still alive today