Wednesday May 16, 2012





issues

Judicial Branch

The Judicial Branch is the only wing of government not directly elected by the populace. Instead of being elected, members of the Judicial Branch are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.

The head office of the American Judiciary is the United States Supreme Court. The Court is composed of 9 judges. There are no term limits to being a Supreme Court judge. A judge will leave office upon retirement or death, with death usually following closely upon retirement.

The Supreme Court is the highest of several federal courts where cases and appeals are brought before federal judges. These lower federal courts are arranged around the nation geographically. There are also 13 United States courts of appeals.

The main duty of the Judicial Branch is to interpret the Constitution as it applies to the laws of the nation. For instance, if Congress were to pass a law prohibiting equal protection under the law or refusing the right to assemble peaceably, the Supreme Court would be where Americans could challenge the Constitutional nature of that law.

It is imperative to keep the Judicial Branch in our prayers as they use ethical and moral standards to interpret America’s Constitution as it applies to her modern laws.

Featured Member of the Judicial Branch for Prayer

PrayFocusJudicialJustice Carol W. Hunstein, Chief Justice, Georgia Supreme Court

Carol Hunstein was born in Miami, Florida in August 1944. By age 23 she was a divorced single mother who had lost her left leg to cancer. However, Justice Carol W. Hunstein received an Associate of Arts degree from Miami-Dade Junior College, a Bachelor of Science Degree from Florida Atlantic University, and her Juris Doctor from Stetson University College of Law.

Prior to her service on the bench, she was in the private practice of law. Her first appointment was to the Superior Court of DeKalb County, where she was active at the county, state and national levels. She was the first woman to serve as President of the Council of Superior Court Judges. By virtue of that office, she was the first person ever to have served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court before becoming a permanent member of the Court.

She was appointed to the Supreme Court in November 1992 by Governor Zell Miller. She is the second woman in history to serve as a permanent member of the Court.

In addition to her judicial duties, Justice Hunstein frequently serves as an adjunct professor at Emory University School of Law. She has three children and one grandson.

IN THE NEWS: A Georgia grassroots group has charged the Effingham County’s Board of Assessors with violating the law. The law was a major part of the 2009 political agenda because it was designed to force local governments to cut expenses rather than raising taxes while the economy was weak. It held assessments at a prior level for three years in every county except those that had recently conducted a comprehensive review of every panel. During oral arguments, two of the justices chastised lawyers for the assessors for insisting property owners go through the administrative step of the equalization board and then appeal individually. It is unclear when the court will render its decision.



US Supreme Court Seal


The Court

Judicial Branch Prayer Needs

PRAY FOR OUR JUDICIARY

The Montana Attorney General’s office has given permission to the filing of a legal brief with the U.S. Supreme Court that the 11th Amendment forbids the Court’s jurisdiction to hear a case involving Citizens United and Montana.

The Supreme Court is being asked to consider the police use of Tasers and other “stun guns” as a violation of the use of excessive force. The Court will consider adding this issue to its 2012 docket that begins in October.

Pray for the Supreme Court Justices as they work to complete their written opinions before the June recess.

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