What is the role of the United States Supreme Court in criminal cases?
The United States Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States. In criminal cases, the Supreme Court plays an important role in interpreting and applying the Constitution, and in deciding how the Constitution applies to criminal cases. The Supreme Court has the power to review decisions made by lower courts and decide upon constitutional questions. This means that the Supreme Court can reverse or affirm the decisions made by the courts below it, such as appeals courts. When the Supreme Court reviews a case, it looks at the facts of the case and determines whether the law was applied correctly. If it finds that the law was not applied correctly, it can change the decision of the court below it. The Supreme Court also reviews and interprets laws written by Congress and laws passed by state legislatures to ensure that they comply with the Constitution. This is called judicial review. In Massachusetts, the Supreme Court has a significant impact on the way criminal cases are decided. For example, the Supreme Court has held that evidence obtained illegally must be excluded, and that confessions cannot be used in court unless they were voluntarily given. The Supreme Court also has the power to interpret the laws of Massachusetts, including criminal laws, and ensure that they comply with federal constitutional principles. This helps to ensure that all criminal defendants in Massachusetts are treated fairly and receive due process of law.
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