Nine Justices Serve On The U.S. Supreme Court

Expounding The Constitution

The Supreme Court of the United States is the final court of appeal and final expositor of the Constitution of the United States. It has the power to overturn laws passed by Congress and state legislatures, as well as executive orders issued by the president. The Court has also played a major role in shaping the course of American history, from the Dred Scott decision in 1857 to the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973.

Who Are The Current Justices?

Currently, the Court is composed of nine justices: one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices. The Chief Justice is John Roberts Jr., who was appointed by President George W. Bush in 2005. The Associate Justices are Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett, and Ketanji Brown Jackson. All of the justices were appointed by Republican presidents, except for Sotomayor and Kagan, who were appointed by Democratic presidents.

What Are Their Backgrounds?

The justices come from a variety of backgrounds. Thomas was a lawyer in private practice before being appointed to the Court. Alito was a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Sotomayor was a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Kagan was a professor at Harvard Law School. Gorsuch was a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Kavanaugh was a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Barrett was a professor at Notre Dame Law School. Jackson was a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

What Are Their Philosophies?

The justices have a variety of judicial philosophies. Thomas and Alito are considered to be conservative justices, while Sotomayor and Kagan are considered to be liberal justices. Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, Barrett, and Jackson are considered to be moderate justices. However, it is important to note that these labels are not always accurate, and the justices often vote in ways that defy easy categorization.