However, that role has been somewhat shifting as the nine unelected justices of the court, who are eligible to serve for life, are now more influential in national politics.
As the court concluded its grand 2023–2024 term, it resolved what Chief Justice John Roberts called a “question of lasting significance” by holding that former presidents Donald Trump and others enjoy broad, if not total, immunity from prosecution for their acts while in office.
President Joe Biden claimed that the ruling violated the “rule,” while Trump celebrated the decision as a “huge win” for democracy.
Let’s examine how the once-stumptuous and highly esteemed Supreme Court has evolved into a political battleground.
Whether laws and government activities comply with the US constitution is decided by the justices. In order to determine if legislation established by Congress are being correctly implemented, they also interpret the laws.
This legal doctrine, known as “stare decisis” (Latin for “to stand by a decision”) requires subordinate courts to adhere to the precedent that the Supreme Court establishes. Because of this, its actions have long-term and national significance.
