Courts & rulings
Supreme Court of the United States
Article III courtCourt of last resortAppointed
The final court of appeal nationwide. It chooses its cases (certiorari) and has the last word on questions of federal law, binding every court, federal and state.
Appointed, President nominates, Senate confirms.
Precedent & authority
The Supreme Court's decisions bind every court in the country, federal and state, on questions of federal law. It is bound by no other court; it may, but need not, follow its own past decisions.
Its rulings on federal law bind all federal and state courts (Supremacy Clause, Art. VI).
Recent opinions
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