Understanding Supreme Court Opinions

Supreme Court opinions are written decisions issued by the Supreme Court of the United States, the highest court in the federal judiciary. These opinions interpret the Constitution and federal laws, resolving disputes about what the law means and how it applies. As Chief Justice John Marshall wrote in the landmark 1803 case Marbury v. Madison, “It is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is.”

Key Points

• Interprets the law: The Supreme Court does not make laws; it interprets them. When there is disagreement about what a law or the Constitution means, the Court provides the authoritative interpretation.
• Judicial review: The Court has the power to strike down laws passed by Congress or actions taken by the President if they violate the Constitution. This power of judicial review makes the Court a check on the other branches of government.
• Nationwide impact: Supreme Court decisions apply across the entire country. When the Court interprets a law, that interpretation becomes binding on all lower courts, federal agencies, and state governments.
• Precedent: The Court generally follows its previous decisions, a principle known as stare decisis (Latin for “to stand by things decided”). This provides stability and predictability in the law, though the Court can overturn past rulings in exceptional circumstances.
• Final authority: There is no appeal from a Supreme Court decision. Once the Court rules, the only ways to change that ruling are for the Court itself to overturn it in a future case or for the Constitution to be amended.