Also known as: Supreme Court · SCOTUS
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
The constitutional clause vesting the judicial power of the United States in one supreme Court and in such inferior courts as Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. Judges of the supreme and inferior courts hold their offices during good behavior and receive compensation that shall not be diminished during their continuance in office.
Omar Olson, a taxpayer in State A, challenged a federal excise tax imposed under Article I Section 8 on imported goods. The district court upheld the tax. Olson appealed to the court of appeals and then sought review in the one supreme Court, which exercised appellate jurisdiction to determine whether the tax met the uniformity requirement across the United States.
Orion Orlov refused to disclose marital communications in a federal prosecution. The district court ordered production. Orlov appealed, and the one supreme Court reviewed whether the presumption of confidentiality in spousal communications had been overcome by the government.
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Orla O'Malley sought to introduce witness testimony in a federal civil trial. The opposing party objected on relevance grounds. The district court excluded the evidence, and the one supreme Court later considered whether the exclusion complied with the rule that relevant evidence is admissible unless barred by the Constitution or federal rules.
Oriana Oberman obtained a preliminary injunction in district court against a competitor. The defendant appealed the order to the court of appeals. The one supreme Court retained ultimate authority to review the interlocutory injunction decision under the statutory grant of appellate jurisdiction.
Oswald Orozco moved for permission to testify by video from another state due to health concerns. The district court granted the request after finding good cause. The one supreme Court later examined whether the transmission satisfied the requirement that testimony ordinarily be taken in open court.
Oakridge Manufacturing challenged the validity of a recess appointment to a lower federal court. The district court dismissed the suit. The one supreme Court exercised appellate jurisdiction to determine whether the appointment power under Article II Section 2 had been properly exercised during a Senate recess.
It establishes that the judicial power is vested in a single supreme Court at the apex of the federal judicial system, with inferior courts that Congress may create below it.
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No. The Constitution assigns original jurisdiction only in cases affecting ambassadors, public ministers, consuls, and those in which a state is a party. In all other cases the one supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction.
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Article I tribunals may adjudicate certain public rights and regulatory matters, but they may not exercise the core judicial power reserved exclusively to the one supreme Court and other Article III courts.
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No. The Constitution requires the existence of one supreme Court. Congress may create or abolish inferior courts but cannot eliminate the supreme Court itself.
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…and assigning the duties which its words purport to confer and assign. The Constitution vests the whole judicial power in one supreme court and such inferior courts as Congress shall ordain and establish. This power is extended to all cases arising under the laws of the United States and consequently may be exercised over the…