OSHER 31 - The US Supreme Court: Origins, Evolution, Future

The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) was born of the English common law (itself a creation of the Middle Ages), honed by centuries of English and colonial American jurisprudence, defined and defended by Alexander Hamilton in the Federalist Papers, and finally created by Article III of the US Constitution and 237 years of actions and opinions of American jurists. Over the years, the Court has evolved in its understanding of the meaning of the Constitution and the role of the Court and its mode of interpretation and it has become in many ways far more powerful than ever anticipated by its creators. This course will focus on a half dozen Courts, identified by their Chief Justice, one or more leading cases decided by the Court, or both. We will look at how the Justices understood and refined their Constitutional role, and how they interpreted the rather general language of the Constitution. Then we will take a deep dive into the Court today, including the 2024 term.