Interactive
iCivics

I Civics: Court Quest

For Students 9th - 10th
In Court Quest, people from around the country need your help to navigate our court system. Listen carefully to each case, so you can guide them to the right place!
Article
CNN

Cnn: Chief Justice Rehnquist Has Died

For Students 9th - 10th
A newspaper piece about Chief Justice William Rehnquist's personal and professional life.
Activity
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: Jurisdiction of Federal Courts

For Students 9th - 10th
This site describes the jurisdiction of the Federal Court system. The site breaks the court's jurisdiction into three main areas of institutional conflict: Federal Restraint of State Courts by Injunctions, Habeas Corpus: Scope of the...
Handout
New York Times

New York Times: Sonia Sotomayor

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Sonia Sotomayor was appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court in August 2009. This site has very comprehensive information about Sotomayor's life and judicial background, her nomination, the debate around her...
Handout
American Academy of Achievement

Academy of Achievement: Sonia Sotomayor

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about Sonia Sotomayor who was nominated to the Supreme Court by President Obama. Read about her background and achievements, listen to an interview, and view a gallery of pictures.
Activity
Illinois Institute of Technology

Oyez Project: Harry A. Blackmun

For Students 9th - 10th
Links to biography, family and appointment information and to cases in which he participated while on the Supreme Court.
Activity
Other

Metropolitan News Company: Earl Warren

For Students 9th - 10th
This site gives an informative look at Supreme Court Justice Earl Warren's life. It also tells the interesting story of how he came to be Chief Justice.
Lesson Plan
University of California

History Project: Fdr and Courtpacking

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This lesson provides the background for the decision by President Roosevelt to attempt to expand the number of Supreme Court justices from nine to twelve. Students are to use sections from provided primary source documents to analyze the...
Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: Biographical Directory of the u.s. Congress: John Marshall

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief overview of the political life of the first Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Website
PBS

Pbs News Hour: The Samuel Alito Nomination

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the Senate hearings on the nomination by President George W. Bush of Samuel Alito in January, 2006. You can find out why the hearings and the nomination were so contentious.
Activity
University of Missouri

Exploring Constitutional Conflicts: Marsh v Chambers, u.s. Supreme Court

For Students 9th - 10th
Chief Justice Burger's majority opinion in the case of MARSH vs. CHAMBERS, 463 U.S. 783 (1983). The case dealt with whether an opening prayer in the Nebraska Legislature violated the First Amendment.
Primary
NBC

Nbc News: Samuel Alito Nomination Remarks

For Students 9th - 10th
Samuel Alito's remarks after being nominated by President George W. Bush as the replacement for Sandra Day O'Connor on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Article
CNN

Cnn: Gop Sets Up Showdown Over Alito

For Students 9th - 10th
Some democrats in the Senate are discussing strategies for halting the confirmation of Samuel Alito for the U.S. Supreme Court. Read about the controversy and battle that is brewing in the Senate in this January, 2006, report. there is...
Article
CBS

Cbs: What's Samuel Alito Really Like?

For Students 9th - 10th
Interesting report about the background of U.S. Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito. November 2005. The site also offers today's live news feed.
Website
Other

Abc News: Who Is Samuel Alito?

For Students 9th - 10th
Article from October, 2005, discussing the background and views of U.S. Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito.
Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: Today in History: October 2: Thurgood Marshall

For Students 9th - 10th
Site about the noted career of Thurgood Marshall, leading civil rights advocate and first African-American to sit on the Supreme Court. This article has information on his education, his work with the NAACP, his involvement in Brown v....
Handout
Other

Jewish Women's Archive: Ruth Bader Ginsburg

For Students 9th - 10th
Comprehensive biographical resource tool for learning about the life and career of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the first Jewish woman to be appointed to the United States Supreme Court.
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: Thurgood Marshall

For Students 3rd - 8th
The first African-American on the U.S. Supreme Court as a pioneer for equal rights. Learn more about Thurgood Marshall on this Library of Congress site.
Website
Digital History

Digital History: Thurgood Marshall

For Students 3rd - 8th
Thurgood Marshall was one of the most important figures in the civil rights movement. In this biographical account, follow the steps of Marshall from his days as a law student at Howard Law School, to his victories as chief counsel for...
Handout
US Department of State

Biographies of the Secretaries of State: William Rufus Day (1849 1923)

For Students 9th - 10th
Brief bio of William Rufus Day, statesman and Secretary of State to William McKinley for only 5 months and eventually serving on the U.S. Supreme Court for 20 years.
Primary
PBS

Pbs News Hour: John Roberts' First Day

For Students 9th - 10th
A very telling report of Chief Justice John Roberts' first day in the Supreme Court. Transcript, audio, and video are available of this interesting report.
Website
PBS

Pbs News Hour: The John Roberts Confirmation

For Students 9th - 10th
Brilliant site that contains a plethora of resources related to John Roberts, the confirmation process, and Supreme Court. Find video and audio of his confirmation. Other resources include a biography and lesson plans.
Activity
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: John Jay

For Students 3rd - 6th
This article chronicles the life of John Jay, one of America's founding fathers and the first chief justice of the Supreme Court. Includes a portrait and illustrations.
Primary
This Nation

This nation.com: Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from ThisNation.com provides Justice Henry B. Brown's full text of the Supreme Court's decision in this landmark case, written by Henry B. Brown.

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