The Judicial Branch

Mar 8

The judicial branch is a system of courts and the judges that preside over them. They interpret laws created by the legislative branch and implemented by the executive branch. At the top of the judicial branch is the Supreme Court, which is the highest court in the United States. Supreme Court justices are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.

The judicial branch is established by Article 3 of the Constitution. The number of Supreme Court justices is not specified in the Constitution. At times there have been as few as six justices, while the current number, nine, has been in place since 1869. The Constitution also grants Congress the power to establish lower courts. Congress has used this power to establish 94 federal district courts and 13 United States courts of appeals, which review appealed District Court cases.

Judges and justices do not serve a fixed term. They serve until their death, retirement, or impeachment by the House of Representatives and conviction by the Senate.