The US Supreme Court is the highest court in the federal judiciary. Its rulings on the Constitution and federal law are final and binding on all courts. It hears approximately 100–150 cases per year, accepting only cases of national importance.
The Supreme Court of the United States is established under Article III of the Constitution. It is composed of nine Justices — one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices — appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate for life terms. The Supreme Court has: **Original jurisdiction**: A small category of cases (e.g., disputes between states) go directly to the Supreme Court. **Appellate jurisdiction**: The Court reviews decisions of the federal courts of appeals and state supreme courts on federal questions. It exercises discretionary certiorari jurisdiction — selecting cases it deems nationally significant. For individuals, the Supreme Court matters because: - Its interpretations of constitutional rights (First, Fourth, Fifth, Fourteenth Amendments, etc.) set the floor for all government conduct across the country. - Its decisions on federal statutes (Title VII, ADA, FMLA, Fair Housing Act, etc.) determine how those laws are applied nationwide. - Landmark decisions like *Miranda v. Arizona* (right to remain silent), *Brown v. Board of Education* (school desegregation), and *Bostock v. Clayton County* (Title VII covers sexual orientation) reshape rights for all Americans. Petitioning the Supreme Court requires a writ of certiorari; the Court accepts fewer than 2% of petitions.
An employer fires a gay employee, claiming Title VII does not prohibit sexual orientation discrimination. The Supreme Court in Bostock v. Clayton County (2020) ruled Title VII does cover sexual orientation and gender identity. This Supreme Court ruling applies nationwide and the employee has a valid EEOC charge.
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