"See you in court!"
"You can't do that. I know my rights!"
"I'm going to take this all the way to the Supreme Court!"
These cliche words illustrate a fundamental American belief: residents of the United States have the right to seek redress through the legal system.
But how do courts safeguard citizens' rights?
How does a matter come to the Supreme Court in the first place? How are fundamental rights safeguarded? Where do folks turn when their liberties, rights, or equality are threatened? Is justice served?
Throughout history, the American people have sought justice through the courts. As a result, the judicial system is a pillar of democracy in the United States.
The president and the executive branch make recommendations and create policy, while Congress enact legislation. Judges, according to American values, make fair and smart choices that elected officials find difficult to make.
Members of Congress, state governors, and the president must be concerned about elections and popular sentiment at all times. As a result, they may lose sight of the importance of preserving American principles, and they may enact hasty or unfair measures.
The courts act as watchdogs for the other arms of government, guided by constitutional principles. Democracy might easily deviate from its intended path if the judicial system is not in place.
But, in practice, does the American legal system follow these ideals? There are several examples of innocent individuals being imprisoned and even convicts being executed for crimes they did not commit. There are many judicial critics. Some claim that the rich or well-connected are given preferential treatment in the courts.
Other judicial opponents point to statistics they say show racial and socioeconomic prejudice. A disproportionate amount of convicts, for example, are young, African American, and male.
Poor people's legal defense attorneys are frequently chastised for being inept or uncaring. Cases in both federal and state courts are sometimes held up for years, creating a farce of the "right to a prompt public trial" provided by Amendment VI Bill of right of the United States Constitution.
When it comes to appointing federal judges, Congress and the president frequently clash. Because Republicans oppose a Democratic president's selections (and vice versa), vacancies in the judiciary can last for months, if not years.
Despite these concerns, courts continue to be strong guardians of liberties.
Freedom of expression has been safeguarded, whether the speaker was a critic of unfair government policy or a flag burning.
Segregation of public facilities came to an end in part because courageous people brought their cases to court. Interpretations of religious freedom have prohibited involuntary school prayer, preserving the separation of church and state but raising concerns that the Judeo-Christian tradition on which the nation was built is gradually eroding.
Despite the fact that the wheels of justice typically turn slowly, judges' rulings are usually the ultimate word when it comes to interpreting core constitutional concepts. The American court system has played a significant role in defining and sustaining freedom, equality, and justice almost from its inception.