Comparing the Judiciaries

Question 1

What about the UK method for appointing justices ensures more independence than the US process?

Answer 1

UK justices are selected by an independent commission and confirmed by the Lord Chancellor while the US justices are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate

Question 2

What is similar in the diversity of both SCOTUS and SCOTUK?

Answer 2

Women and ethnic minorities underrepresented, more so in the UK

Question 3

What is the key difference in the length of tenure of Supreme Court Justices in each country?

Answer 3

Justices must retire at age 70 in the UK whereas no such rule exists in the US

Question 4

What is the difference in the judicial approach of justices in the US and UK?

Answer 4

UK justices tend to practice judicial restraint and, while some conservative justices do too, the US judiciary generally takes a more active role in ‘political’ affairs

Question 5

What UK Constitutional principle gives SCOTUK a narrower remit than SCOTUS?

Answer 5

Parliamentary Sovereignty

Question 6

What is similar about both supreme courts’ roles in federalism/devolution?

Answer 6

Both courts have played an important role in defining the rights and powers of the constituent parts of each nation