The Supreme Court and their History

In the movie National Treasure, Nicolas Cage portrays Benjamin Franklin Gates, a modern-day treasure hunter who famously steals the Declaration of Independence to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. While this might seem like an extreme act, it reflects the frustration many feel about the lack of fairness and justice in government today. Corruption and bureaucratic inefficiency can make processes like taxation feel like fraud, undermining public trust in institutions meant to serve them. 

The U.S. Supreme Court, the highest judicial body in the country, was established to provide justice free from bias and influence. However, even from its inception, biases existed within the system. For much of American history, racial prejudice was deeply ingrained in legal proceedings. Fair trials for Black Americans were almost impossible, with the judicial system often reinforcing rather than challenging racial discrimination. Fortunately, legal reforms and civil rights movements have significantly reduced such overt biases, although disparities and imperfections persist. 

The Supreme Court also played a crucial role in shaping the judiciary's structure, including the establishment of lower federal and state courts to handle most legal disputes. This tiered system was created to ensure that cases could be heard more quickly and locally, preventing the Supreme Court from being overwhelmed with every lawsuit, including those frivolous or less impactful ones. It also allows for a system of appeals where a case can be reconsidered at higher levels if deemed necessary.

The tiering system with the courts could give many people a headache with how unfair judges can be if they did their job right the scales of justice would not be tipped. My friend got hit by a car; the one at fault was the drunk man driving. He thought he had enough time to take a left turn on the highway. Luckily, my friend was fine, but he took
the drunk driver to court. He thought it was an easy and caught case because he had the right of way and the opposing side had a drunk driver, but no the intoxicated man was homies with the judge so instead of getting jail time and a revoked license with $20,000 in damages they just have to attend anger management classes. 

The U.S. Supreme Court has the final authority to interpret the Constitution and ensure that laws and policies adhere to it. While it cannot address every injustice at the local level, its role is crucial in setting nationwide precedents that lower courts must follow. The Supreme Court has historically been involved in landmark decisions that have shaped civil rights, individual liberties, and the balance of power in the government. Despite its imperfections, the Supreme Court remains a vital institution in striving for justice, serving as a check on other branches of government, and attempting to balance the scales of justice.