Part 1: Short Answer Questions
Answer the questions in about 5-7 sentences.
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Pick a Supreme Court justice and write a short report on him or her.
Go to a Judicial Branch link and find out what cases the Supreme Court have on their
docket this term.
The Supreme Court justices are appointed. Do you think they should be elected and why
or why not.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of trial by jury of your peers?
Part 2: Choose one topic. Type your response. (12 font, Times New Roman, double spaced)
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Write an essay on whether cameras in the courtroom are a good idea.
Write an essay on what age and for what crimes a child should be tried as an adult.
Write an essay on whether the names of children who commit crimes should be
published.
PART 3: Supreme Court Case
Pick one of the most significant decisions by the Supreme Court. Learn about how the court
voted, who wrote the majority and dissenting decision and what the case was about. Write a
poem, song or rap
Part 1
1.
Sonia Sotomayor is currently part of the Supreme Court of Justice, she was appointed to
the Supreme Court on August 8, 2009. She’s the oldest of two children born and raised in the
South Bronx area of New York and Puerto Rican descent. Sonia Sotomayor grew up in a modest
environment but that didn’t stop her from achieving her goals and becoming who she is now.
Sonia started out in a Private Practice, and then later moved on to becoming part of the board of
Legal Defense and Education fund. Later in 1992 she became appointed to US district judge, and
slowly but patiently worked her way up to her current position as a Judge for the Supreme Court
of Justice.
2.
These are some cases the Supreme Court have on their docket this term:
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Filings in the Defense of Marriage Act and California’s Proposition 8 cases.
Case Distribution Schedule
Delivery of Documents to the Clerk's Office
On-Line MERITS BRIEFS
Special Master Reports
http://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docket.aspx
3.
I think that the judges should be elected by the people instead of appointed. The reason
why I think this is because If they are appointed it’s really not fair for example if the president
was to appoint someone it might be because of personal decision and not because they are
actually qualified for the position, And if they were voted/elected for instead then that makes it
fair because the decision is coming straight from the people and the citizens are more likely to
appoint them for their qualifications and for a personal favor.
4.
Some advantages of being trialed by a jury is that it keeps a balance between the
government and the citizens because by allowing common every day citizens to participate in a
jury it keeps a balance and lets the citizens have a say on what’s happening, Some disadvantages
are that since anyone can be part of the jury then it could be that the jury representing the persons
are actually unexperienced and don’t know anything about the law and they could also be bias.
Part 2 What age and for what crimes a child should be tried as an adult?
I think that if a child was to murder someone or commit a crime that usually an adult
would be sentenced with capital punishment or some sort. Then that child should be trialed the
same way. I don’t think the age of the criminal matters a crime is a crime committed by and adult
or child there is no excuse of age. Some people might say “well he’s just a kid he doesn’t know
any better.” But the truth is he had a choice to either do the right thing or become a criminal. We
should all be held responsible for our own choices. The only fair thing to do is to trial everyone
equally otherwise would an elderly person be trialed as a child? The answer to that is no even
though it is proven that as we age we become like a child again the point here is that it doesn’t
matter the age we have the amendments state that we have the right to a fair trial. And I think
that, that means that anyone who is accused of committing a crime is to be trialed fairly and
equally. I also think that as part of the punishment the child should receive rehabilitation or some
sort of psychiatric therapy so that the child can become better, and maybe with help and therapy
he won’t commit the same mistake twice. Also it would be a good idea to provide the parents
with like therapy for the family and some parenting classes. I believe that sometimes th problems
start at home and that’s why kids become criminals. With this help I think that it would prepare
the parents more and hopefully help and give the child a second chance, Given that he needs one
everyone needs second chances. As a young adult myself I know that I would accept the
consequences of my actions.
Part 3
Hollingsworth v. Perry
This is the land they refer to as home of the free and land of the brave.
Yet none of this is true.
I’m untraditional but still a human.
I should be able to be with who I want even if we’re the same sex.
We have those rights, I have those rights
Yet the government is taking my rights away.
But I believe one day we’ll be free and free of judgment.
Free to be who we really are, free to be happy and free to love.
That day starts here in California with Hollingsworth vs. Perry.