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The Supreme Court's decisions are always final unless they agree to rehear a case, which rarely happens. The Supreme Court is the final authority on federal and constitutional law in the United States; there is no further avenue of appeal.

There are only two ways in which a Supreme Court decision may be overturned: 1) the Court may change its own decisions; 2) Congress and the states may effectively overrule a decision by constitutional amendment. In the case of nullified Federal Laws, Congress may rewrite the law to comply with constitutional requirements.

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14y ago
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14y ago

Yes, they are supposed to be. The Supreme Court is the ultimate arbiter of federal law and the Constitution. Their rulings are intended to carry the force of law, and set binding precedents for inferior courts.

Unfortunately, the Supreme Court has no means or authority to enforce its decisions, and must rely on the Executive and Legislative branches to ensure orders are carried out. Sometimes the other branches deliberately ignore rulings, drag their feet, or allow decisions to be applied selectively.

This was the case in the 1950s and early 60s, when the Supreme Court ruled segregation and racial discrimination unconstitutional. Although Brown v. Board of Education (segregation in public schools) was decided in 1954, and Gayle v. Browder(segregation on intrastate buses) in 1956, the federal government didn't make a concerted effort to support civil rights until Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (a decade after Brown).

Supreme Court decisions are absolutely binding on the lower courts, but occasionally judges neglect the doctrine of stare decisis (let the decision stand). This usually results in the Supreme Court revisiting an older ruling in the context of a new case. Sometimes they agree with the lower court's decision (after a good scolding), and sometimes they disagree, reversing the lower court decision (after a good scolding).

The Supreme Court has more control over its own (Judicial) branch of government than over the other two branches.

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12y ago

Yes. Since the Supreme Court rules only on matters of constitutionality, and is the highest court in the land, ALL states and territories are bound by its decisions.

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Q: Are US Supreme Court decisions final?
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Related questions

Final interpreters of the constitution?

According to the US Constitution itself, the United States Supreme Court is the final interpreter of the Constitution. The Court's decisions are final and are seldom changed.


What is the name of a US Supreme Court decision?

US Supreme Court decisions are called opinions.


What is the term for the decrees of the US Supreme Court?

US Supreme Court decisions are called "Opinions."


Do you find US Supreme Court decisions in the Federal Reporter?

No, West Publishing compiles the thirteen US Court of Appeals Circuit Court decisions in the Federal Reporter; US District Court decisions are published in the Federal Supplement; US Supreme Court decisions are published in Supreme Court Reporter. The official US federal government bound publication of Supreme Court decisions is United States Reports. For more information, see Related Links, below.


What is the US Supreme Court's verdict called?

The US Supreme Court's decisions (or verdicts) are called opinions.


What is the difference between 'Supreme Court Report Annotated' and 'Supreme Court Decisions Annotated'?

Supreme Court Report Annotated is the name of the bound series of legal decisions of the Philippines Supreme Court. There is no publication specifically listed as Supreme Court Annotated Decisions or Supreme Court Decisions Annotated, except for a few US historical documents listed as Supreme Court Decisions [annotated].You didn't specify whether you were looking for official documentation for the Philippines or the United States. In the United States, the comparable, annotated volumes of Supreme Court decisions is called US Supreme Court Reports, lawyers' edition.


What branch of government have some decisions appealed in US Supreme Court?

Decisions by all three branches of government can be appealed to the US Supreme Court.


When can US supreme court decisions be modified?

When the issue is again brought before the Supreme Court.


Which court has the authority to review the decisions of the US court appeals?

Supreme Court


What Supreme Court Decisions occurred after 1945?

The US Supreme Court has made thousands of decisions since 1945. Please be more specific.


Can lower courts reverse or change US Supreme Court decisions?

No. Rulings of the US Supreme Court are 'the law of the land.'


What is the explanation for the supreme court's decisions called?

The explanation for the US Supreme Court's decision is called the opinion.