Ewuradjoa Amoah

AP NSL
Fowler
5 Feb, 2015

Week Three Writing Assignment

The courts role as a political institution changed its responsibilities to the general public
because the courts have to mediate any conflict or violations that arises with the law between the
government and those being governed, states, and organizations. The courts are also responsible
for creating a balance between the need for some social and moral order, and the individual
freedom that everyone has a natural right to. Also, the courts are required to deliver justice and
protection to citizens under the grounds of the Constitution to those who are in need of it. Lastly,
the courts are required to inform the public about the decisions they have made.
The courts mediate conflict and violations by taking cases that have legal standing. These
courts are courts with original jurisdiction. This means that cases goes straight to those courts
first. These cases can involve regular civilians, organizations, and corporations. Cases that
involve states are taking to the Supreme Court, the highest court in the U.S. When making a
decision the courts have to obey the rule of stare decisis, let the decision stand, which means that
they have to follow preceding rulings.
Ways that the courts create balance between the need for social order and individual
freedom is by delicately ruling on cases that violate personal rights and liberties. For example in
Brown v. Board of Education, the Supreme Court had ruled that the segregation of schools was
unconstitutional. This case is good example because at the time of the ruling, a large percentage
of the public had found segregation to be unfair and unreasonable. Also, segregating schools, in
the Constitution, is seen as a violation of human rights. By balancing these two, the courts made
a decision that both held up the social order and the individual freedom citizens. They also
protected the citizens natural rights.
In her article “Beyond Bush v. Gore”, Linda Greenhouse sketches out a set of
performance standards for the courts; The court owes the public an obligation to speak clearly-
meaning the opinions should be explained in a way regular civilians will be able to understand-,
a better relationship with the press-the courts are oblivious to what the press needs in order to
properly report decisions-, coverage consistency, and the absence of personal incentives while
judging on cases (Lasser 357-62). Greenhouse’s ‘performance standards’ reflect the political role
of the courts as an institution that not only has to rule in ways that protect citizens, but also one
Ewuradjoa Amoah
AP NSL
Fowler
5 Feb, 2015

that has to communicate and inform citizens about important decisions and rulings that the courts
made and that affect them. This way, citizens are kept up to date with legislations and laws.