CH 12
Supreme Court
The Role of the Judicial Branch
Lesson 2 - Law and Order
(IMG_2659, IMG_2660,
1202_0101 photo lamp fixture on west wall
1202_0102 hilite 5 lights in fixture—or different angle shot
1202_0103—keep 5 lights hilited and overlay star from American Flag
1202_0104 change to north wall plaque, hilite tablets with text, written law
1202_0105 change to west wall plaque, hilite scales with text, Scales of Justice
1202_0106 change to south wall plaque, hilite swords & leaf, with text, oak leaf
The fixtures in this room shed light in more ways than one. Each has five lights, to remind you of the five points of a star, like Nebraska's star on the American flag. And each has a plaque with a symbol on it. The plaques on the north wall shows stone tablets, to represent written law. The plaques on the west wall are the Scales of Justice. And the plaques on the south wall have flaming swords and an oak leaf, to represent the administration of law.
Ideas All Come Together
Power is divided in Nebraska just as it is in the U.S. government, with checks and balances between the branches. The Legislature can pass a bill. The governor can sign the bill into law. But the Nebraska Supreme Court can weigh the meritsWorth, value, good qualities. of the law.
If the Nebraska Supreme Court finds that the law conflicts with the state constitution, the law is declared unconstitutional and is no longer in effect.
![Supreme Court Justices in 1854 1202_02101[replace when final comes in]](/virtualcapitol/assets/images/territorial_supreme_court_justices.max-1600x900.jpg)
The number of cases brought before the court grew and grew through the years. Now the Nebraska Supreme Court is more than twice as big, and many cases it used to hear are heard in lower courts, such as the Court of AppealsAn appeal is a request to have a legal decision changed or reversed..
By adding more justices to the court and by adding more courts to Nebraska's judicial system, the state has tried to make sure cases are heard quickly and fairly.
In some cases, if a law is determined to be unconstitutional, the Legislature can write a new bill that becomes a law that does meet Nebraska's constitutional standards. In this way, the Nebraska Supreme Court helps shape the state's laws and protect the state's citizens.
Another way the Nebraska Supreme Court serves the citizens is as the state’s highest court of appeals.
Nebraska citizens have the right to appeal to the Nebraska Supreme Court in cases that involve:
- the death penalty,
- life imprisonment,
- or constitutional issues.
All other cases are first appealed to Nebraska's Court of Appeals.
The Nebraska Supreme Court hears cases relating to revenueIn this case, money coming in to the government. and cases in which an election for a state office (other than senator) is contestedTo contest an election means to call for an investigation to detect mistakes in the election process that might have resulted in the wrong person being named the winner..
The Nebraska Supreme Court also:
- Appoints a members of the Court of Appeals to serve as its Chief Judge;
- Regulates the practice of law in the state;
- Admits applicants to the Nebraska State Bar Association, so that they can practice law in the state; and
- administers the state probationWhen an individual has been convicted of a crime, the person sometimes serves time in prison. Sometimes the person is put on probation—that is, allowed to stay out of prison but required to report to a special officer and follow certain restrictions. Sometimes people serve time and then are put on probation. system.
The United States is divided into 12 judicial circuits (areas) and each has a court of appeals that hears appeals in federal cases. Their decisions are final unless appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT . . .What would you like about being a Supreme Court Justice?