In fact, you have 9 Members who have different life experiences and opinions.  They did not go to the Mount and get the word from the Lord – they interpret precedent, the Constitution and society with viewpoints something akin to theologians interpreting the Bible.  While some of us citizens may be awed by the Supreme Court – or rather have a reverence for the judicial process – that attitude may be based on some illusions. 

One illusion is when the population is informed by the media that a ‘judge’ has ruled this way or that on a matter and not really understanding what a ‘judge’ is and how many types of judges there are. There are state and federal judges, local judges, appeals court judges, pretend judges in small claims courts, etc., etc.  Some are elected, some are appointed, some are volunteers. Some at all levels are willing to participate in the corruption of the political process. Court, at all levels. is in many instances is a ‘crap shoot’. The result on any given day may be dependent on an argument at home with the wife, or if a judge’s daughter had been evicted by a landlord.

Underneath the pyramid of judges are the approximately 1,350,000 attorneys from which many of the judges are selected or elected.  That pool of legal talent could be likened to a snake pit from which we hope wise and moral ‘officers of the court’ can be found to move to the bench. Think of large billboards next to the road encouraging you to call and find out what your back ache claim is worth. It is also worth noting that judges are not required to have been attorneys in many states and may not even understand the law.     

There is also the illusion regarding the right of appeal.  Unaffordable in most instances and not understandable to most citizens. It is also frequently said that judges are concerned about being overruled as if they will be denied golf club membership.  As attorneys, they were overseen by state bar associations along the lines of the public utility commission overseeing utility rates. Oversight may not be the concern to a judge the general population thinks it is.

The jury is a segment of the judicial system that is supposed to give a defendant confidence and that is certainly an illusion.  Most recently a jury awarded $150,000,000 to 2 election workers whose reputations were considered slandered.  A jury is us – people with prejudices and biases – as are attorneys and judges and Justices.

It is no wonder that the word SUPREME in supreme court should offer comfort that ultimately there is an entity that oversees the system we live under.  Unfortunately, the fact that there are 9 Justices is confirmation that no single individual on the Supreme Court knows the truth and right or wrong in any matter.  The goal is consensus and that is the best that can be hoped for even if it is 5 to 4.