Earth Supreme Court

Earth Supreme Court
Group Information
Location	Washington D.C. (assumed)
Slogan	Nine Judges, No Waiting
Age	1220 yrs, (assumes continuation from Supreme Court of USA, founded 1789)
Planet	Earth
Profession	Adjudicating the affairs of Earth by hearing court cases.
First appearance	"A Taste of Freedom"

It is assumed, like other branches of Earth's Government, that the Supreme Court of Earth is a continuation of the Supreme Court of the United States, which is backed up by the fact that many of the justices sitting on the court in the 31st century were members of the court of the United States in the early 21st century. Like its predecessor, the Earth's Supreme Court is made up of nine justices that are appointed by the sitting President. These justices, most of whom were heads by the end of the 30th century, would hear the arguments of each side before reaching a consensus through a vote via high-speed telepathy.

At some point between 3003 and 3009, legislation was introduced that halved the votes of female justices. It is unknown when or why this occurred, though ultimately Earth President Richard M. Nixon would have been responsible for signing the bill into law, but it played a pivotal role in at least one court case: Wong v. Eco-Feministas.

Known Courts

The Fu Court, during Earth v. Zoidberg

The Fu Court circa 3003

Chief Justice

• Myrtle Fu

Associate Justices (in order of seniority)

• John Paul Stephens
• Clarence Thomas
• Antonin Scalia's head
• David Souter
• Ruth Bader Ginsburg
• Sandra Day O’Connor
• Snoop Dogg
• Abe Vigoda

The Dogg Court circa 3009

Chief Justice

• Snoop Dogg

Associate Justices (in order of seniority)

• Paula Abdul
• Ruth Bader Ginsburg
• Clarence Thomas
• Björk
• Janeane Garofalo
• Samuel Alito
• Antonin Scalia's head
• Katey Sagal

Background Notes

There have been two different courts which have appeared in Futurama, and because where the justices sit is determined by traditional methods, the justice with most seniority sits to the right of the Chief Justice, the next senior sits to the left, and so on until all nine are seated, it is possible to establish the seniority of the court by looking at the seating. As noted in the commentary for Into the Wild Green Yonder, the Dogg Court has several mistakes in the seating in terms of seniority, that brings some interesting things into the Futurama canon.

For example, Antonin Scalia, despite being a member of the court as a body in the 21st century, was overtaken by Paula Abdul, who must therefore have spent more time on the court before leaving it for a period including the period in which Earth v. Zoidberg was decided circa 3003, before returning to take her place as the most senior member of the court. Additionally, Ruth Bader Ginsburg had been the fifth most senior associate justice in 3003, but became the second most senior by 3009, somehow overtaking Scalia and Thomas in the process.

Known Decisions

Alabama v. Giant Space Iguana; sometime before 3003

Plaintiff: State of Alabama
Defendant: A giant space iguana
Decision: Court finds that chewing the corner off the Constitution was deemed non-protected speech.
Sentence: Unknown

Earth v. Zoidberg; 3003

Plaintiff: the planet Earth, Earth President Nixon's Head; represented in court by Hyper-Chicken
Defendant: Dr. John A. Zoidberg; represented in court by Old Man Waterfall
Decision: the Court votes 6 to 3 that flag eating is not protected by the Constitution and polygamy is found Constitutional.
Sentence: Court ordered immediate apology or death

Wong v. Eco-Feministas; 3009

Plaintiff: Leo Wong
Defendants: the Eco-Feministas
Decision: Although the Dogg Court voted 5 to 4 along gender lines to acquit the Eco-Feministas of the various crimes of which they were of accused, including protecting the environment, unknown legislation introduced prior to the case halved the female votes, thus reversing the vote (4 to 2.5).
Sentence: The court decides to commit the Feministas to Maxi-Padlock detention facility.

Appearances

• A Taste of Freedom
• Into the Wild Green Yonder