Courts trivia

Related Trivia

Legal terminology, landmark court cases, and the justice system.

Courts Mini Quiz

Test your knowledge with these top questions!

Question 1

Who was the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court?

Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman on the U.S. Supreme Court, was appointed by Ronald Reagan in 1981. She was known for her cowgirl roots and pragmatic decisions!

Question 2

What sport is played in the facility on the top floor of the US Supreme Court building nicknamed "the highest court in the land"?

The gym is located on the building's top floor. Playing is prohibited during oral arguments because the sound of bouncing balls can be heard in the courtroom below.

Question 3

Which word completes the phrase "Equal Justice Under" carved above the U.S. Supreme Court entrance?

Architect Cass Gilbert and sculptor Robert Aitken chose the phrase for the building's West Pediment, which sits above the main entrance and was completed in 1935.

Question 4

Established by the case Marbury v. Madison, what legal concept allows the Supreme Court to strike down unconstitutional laws?

The U.S. Constitution does not explicitly mention judicial review. After the 1803 ruling, the Court did not strike down another federal law until 1857.

Question 5

Which woman became the 1st justice to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court?

Initially offered only a legal secretary job after law school due to her gender, O'Connor was later confirmed to the Supreme Court by a unanimous 99-0 Senate vote.

Question 6

Which lawyer argued the Brown v. Board of Education case before joining the U.S. Supreme Court?

Marshall won 29 of the 32 cases he argued before the Supreme Court and became the first African American justice in 1967.

Question 7

In a case about software code, which tech company beat Oracle at the Supreme Court in a major 2021 copyright battle?

The Supreme Court ruled 6-2 that Google's copying of 11,500 lines of Java API code was fair use, a landmark decision that protects software interoperability and innovation.

Question 8

Which white stone material covers the exterior of the U.S. Supreme Court building?

The exterior features Vermont Imperial Danby marble, while the interior courtyards and corridors use marble sourced from Georgia and Alabama.

Question 9

Which man served as both the face of the $10,000 bill and a US Supreme Court Chief Justice?

As Secretary of the Treasury, Chase placed his own portrait on the first $1 federal banknote to increase his visibility for a potential presidential run.

Question 10

Which tech company won a 1984 case regarding the legality of home video recorders?

The ruling established that time-shifting constitutes fair use. This decision protected Sony from liability and paved the way for modern recording devices like the DVR.