The U.S. Supreme Court

"The Supreme Court enjoys all but free rein in selecting which cases to review. From the end of one term in the summer until the start of the next, on the first Monday in October, the work of the court is to sift through thousands of petitions from parties…” (New York Times)

Each year in early October the Nation, if not the world, turns its attention to nine men and women meeting in a stately building on East Capitol Street in Washington D.C. The first Monday in October is designated by U.S. Statute as the opening of a new term of the United States Supreme Court, the highest court in the land, and there is often great interest in knowing what cases the Court has chosen to hear and the eventual outcome of the court's decisions.

This year especially interest in the proceedings of the Court has increased in Kansas due to a case involving the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas. Local media have focused on the arguments of both parties and Kansans have read and listened to explanations of how cases are presented to the Supreme Court and decided by the Court.

Below are some links with further information on the U.S. Supreme Court, its duties, history, members and actions. Also included are links to some media information on the case called "Albert Snyder, Petitioner v. Fred W. Phelps, Sr. et al."

About the Supreme Court
http://www.supremecourt.gov/about/about.aspx

Court Procedure
http://www.supremecourt.gov/about/procedures.aspx

Supreme Court Firsts and Other Trivia
http://www.supremecourt.gov/about/oath/supremecourtoathfirstsandtrivia2009.aspx

Associate Justice Elena Kagan’s investiture
http://www.supremecourt.gov/publicinfo/press/investiture/investiture_kagan.aspx

“No candid cameras in the Supreme Court”
Fort Worth Star-Telegram October 5, 2010
http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/10/05/2523030/no-candid-cameras-in-the-
supreme.html

Has The Supreme Court Limited Americans' Access To Courts?
http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS125052
( Hearing before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, 111th Congress, First Session, December 2, 2009)

A Bill To Permit The Televising Of Supreme Court Proceedings
http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS102281
(hearing before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, 110th Congress, Second Session, September 8, 2008)

As the court begins its 2010 term, a case with Kansas connections has received national and world notice

Albert Snyder, Petitioner v. Fred W. Phelps, Sr. et al
http://www.supremecourt.gov/Search.aspx?FileName=/docketfiles/09-751.htm

“Snyder v. Phelps a ‘big’ case”
Topeka Capital Journal October 3, 2010
http://cjonline.com/news/local/2010-10-03/snyder_v_phelps_a_big_case

“High court struggles with funeral protest case” Wichita Eagle October 6, 2010
http://www.kansas.com/2010/10/06/1529007/high-court-to-hear-military-funeral.html

“U.S. court considers anti-gay protests at funerals”
Toronto Sun October 6, 2010
http://www.torontosun.com/news/world/2010/10/06/15602881.htmls/world/2010/10/06/15602881.html

Article contact: Cindy Roupe (Resources); Bill Sowers (Text)
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