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With Supreme Court Justice David Souter retirement, President Barack Obama faces one of the most important decisions of his tenure. Who do you think the next Supreme Court Justice should be?
Can Congress impeach a Supreme Court Justice?
Why is the current court made up entirely of former federal appeals court judges?
Why is it important for a president to know how his choice will rule on the Supreme Court?
Brown
v. Board of Education http://brownvboard.org/actvtybk/word.htm
Word search. Find the words listed about the Brown v. Board of
Education Supreme Court case of 1954.
Congress
and the Courts http://www.congresslink.org/print_lp_courts.htm Lesson Plan - Analyze the United States
Constitution to discern the relationship between Congress and the
federal courts, the attributes deemed important in a judge, and
how the courts can influence legislation. You will also apply to
principle of judicial review to legislation as they take on the
role of a federal judge.
Judges
on Trial - Examining the Selection of Supreme Court Justices http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/
20020408monday.html Lesson Plan - Investigate how different
branches of government affect or aid the appointment of a Supreme
Court justice nominee and the responsibilities of a judge.
Justice http://www.col-ed.org/cur/sst/sst104.txt Lesson Plan - Experience brainstorming
and open-ended questioning strategies and research to develop a
better understanding of the justice
system.
Justice:
A Man’s Title and His "Guiding Light" - A Look Back
at the Life and Influence of Justice Harry A. Blackmun http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/
19990305friday.html Lesson Plan - Reflect on the life of retired
Justice Henry A. Blackmun, investigating major court decisions he
influenced and understanding the impact of his voice in the Supreme
Court on our society today.
'A
Voice of Moderation and Civility' - A Look Back at Justice Lewis
Powell in the Social Studies Classroom http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/
19980826wednesday.html Lesson Plan - Reflect on the life
of retired Justice Lewis Powell, investigating major court decisions
he influenced and understanding the impact of his 'voice of moderation
and civility to an increasingly polarized (Supreme) court.'
Thurgood Marshall was the first African-American Supreme Court justice? He was appointed by President Lyndon Johnson in 1967. Sandra Day O'Connor was the first woman Supreme Court justice. She was appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1981.
Develop a job description for a Supreme Court justice and compare your idea of what makes up a qualified justice with the current members of the Supreme Court. Then create a final job description for a Supreme Court justice.
This activity is in two parts. First, review a Supreme Court justice's stand on issues pending or decided by the Supreme Court. Surmise the justice's ideology and determine his or her place on an ideology continuum line. In the second part, review upcoming cases for the 2009-10 Supreme Court session. Cases from other years can be used also.