Government+AP


 * The Supreme Court**

Currently, the only way to see what happens at the Supreme Court is go there. There are no photographs or videos allowed of the Supreme Court in session. They DO make audio recordings of all Supreme Court proceedings, and many of then are uploaded onto the web. To get a clearer picture of what happens in the Supreme Court, click on the videos below. They are from a 1990s television show called Picket Fences. The clips give a good indication of what a Supreme Court argument looks like. (Note that most lawyers don't crack jokes. Skip the non-court scenes. Also give props to the producers for such great look-alikes of the justices.) Then, scroll down to hear the actual arguments. If you are using your school computer, you won't be able to view the youtube videos. If you have a home computer, you should be able to view them on it.

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Next, listen to some of a REAL oral argument. Go to the following website: [] Click on one of the case names, then click on 'expanded view.' You should see the transcript and a picture of the speaker. You can play around with the other methods of listening if you prefer. (You don't have to listen to all of it, but listen to both sides of the case for a little. Each side gets 30 minutes.) __Suggested Cases:__ //District of Columbia v. Heller//: Can D.C. ban handguns? A rare Second Amendment Case //Cueller v. United States//: Is a drug smuggler guilty of money laundering? //Begay v. United States//: Is a DWI a violent offense? //Virginia v. Moore//: Were Moore's 4th Amendment rights violated when police searched his hotel room with permission?

THEN go the Discussion tab above and respond to what you saw. What did you find most interesting or surprising?