Who has the most power over the courts?
Asked by: Julie Dare | Last update: July 28, 2025Score: 4.8/5 (42 votes)
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the American judicial system, and has the power to decide appeals on all cases brought in federal court or those brought in state court but dealing with federal law.
Who holds the most power in court?
Prosecutors are the most powerful officials in the American criminal justice system. The decisions they make, particularly the charging and plea-bargaining decisions, control the operation of the system and often predetermine the outcome of criminal cases.
Who has power over the courts?
Article III, Section I states that "The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish." Although the Constitution establishes the Supreme Court, it permits Congress to decide how to organize it.
Who is in charge of the highest court?
Chief Justice of Nigeria. The chief justice of Nigeria or CJN is the head of the judicial arm of the government of Nigeria, and presides over the country's Supreme Court and the National Judicial Council. The current chief justice is Kudirat Kekere-Ekun who was appointed on 22 August 2024.
Who is higher than the Supreme Court?
The Supreme Court is the state's highest court. It can review cases decided by the Courts of Appeal.
Why Texas judges have so much power right now
Who can overrule a judge?
Most federal court decisions, and some state court rulings, can be challenged. The U.S. courts of appeals usually have the last word. The nation's 94 federal judicial districts are organized into 12 regional circuits, each of which has a court of appeals.
Who is more powerful, Congress or the Supreme Court?
Congress creates laws; the Supreme Court interprets those laws in the context of legal disputes and rules on their constitutionality. Congress can change the courts' size, structure, and jurisdiction.
Who has the most authority in the courtroom?
the judge has the most power over your body in that particular moment, in that the judge can order the bailiff to take you into custody directly. the prosecutor has the most power over your case and your legal future. They have discretion to drop or amend charges, and to some extent over your plea.
Who is the most powerful court?
The Supreme Court of India is the apex judicial body under the Constitution of India. Article 124 of the Constitution states that “There shall be a Supreme Court of India.” The Supreme Court came into existence on 26 January 1950 with the coming into force of the Constitution.
What court has the most power?
The U.S. Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States. Article III of the U.S. Constitution created the Supreme Court and authorized Congress to pass laws establishing a system of lower courts.
Who is the boss of a judge?
There is no “boss” as such, besides administrative matters. Salaries are set by statute of the jurisdiction, and are paid by the taxpayers.
Who has the power to overrule the U.S. Supreme Court?
But if the Supreme Court's ruling is just interpreting a federal statute as opposed to the Constitution itself, then Congress can simply enact a new or revised statute correcting the Supreme Court, as it has on several occasions.
Can the President fire a federal judge?
Only Congress has the authority to remove an Article III judge. This is done through a vote of impeachment by the House and a trial and conviction by the Senate.
Who has more authority than a judge?
Supreme Court Justices
The Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction over other matters as conferred upon the Supreme Court by various statutes, under the authority given Congress by the Constitution. Learn more about Supreme Court justices.
Who is the most powerful member of the courtroom?
Although the judge is commonly considered to be the most powerful actor in the court system, the prosecutor wields the greatest power over case outcomes in a system reliant on processing cases via plea agreement.
Can the judge overrule the prosecutor?
Judges do not have control over which charges are brought against a defendant but may have discretion in sentencing, even when a plea bargain is involved. Thus, a judge can accept a plea bargain while simultaneously imposing a different sentence than the sentence to which the defendant and the prosecutor agreed.
Is there anyone higher than the Supreme Court?
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the land and the only part of the federal judiciary specifically required by the Constitution.
Which law is most powerful?
- 1/6. These laws go beyond legal statutes. The world is governed by numerous laws that extend beyond those written in constitutions or statutes. ...
- 2/6. Murphy's Law. ...
- 3/6. Pareto Principle. ...
- 4/6. Falkland's Law. ...
- 5/6. Parkinson's Law. ...
- 6/6. Godwin's Law.
Who has control of our courts?
Generally, Congress determines the jurisdiction of the federal courts. In some cases, however — such as in the example of a dispute between two or more U.S. states — the Constitution grants the Supreme Court original jurisdiction, an authority that cannot be stripped by Congress.
Is the president more powerful than Congress?
no one part of government dominates the other. The Constitution of the United States provides checks and balances among the three branches of the federal government. The authors of the Constitution expected the greater power to lie with Congress as described in Article One.
Do judges have more power than lawyers?
A: In criminal cases, lawyers may have more power than private judges because they often represent defendants facing serious criminal charges. Lawyers can argue for their client's innocence, negotiate plea deals, and present evidence to sway judges and juries.
Can a President override the Supreme Court?
When the Supreme Court rules on a constitutional issue, that judgment is virtually final; its decisions can be altered only by the rarely used procedure of constitutional amendment or by a new ruling of the Court.
What branch declares war?
About Declarations of War by Congress. The Constitution grants Congress the sole power to declare war. Congress has declared war on 11 occasions, including its first declaration of war with Great Britain in 1812.
Who has oversight over the Supreme Court?
Congress possesses substantial authority to regulate how the federal courts exercise judicial power, albeit subject to certain constitutional limitations.