Beyond the Bench

The Supreme Court of the United States evolved from a weaker institution into a powerful pillar of American democracy through key decisions and leadership.

In the 1830s, the Cherokee Nation took their fight for sovereignty to the Supreme Court and although their sovereignty was affirmed in Worcester v. Georgia, the United State's government ignored the ruling leading to the infamous Trail of Tears.

The contributions of the wives of the early Supreme Court justices rarely appear in official records, but they provided essential support to their husbands: from managing households and finances, to acting as trusted advisors.

The longest-serving Chief Justice in U.S. history, John Marshall transformed the Supreme Court into a co-equal branch of government, and established judicial review.