The Supreme Court is the judicial court of last resort in the Federal system of courts. The sessions are held in Washington, D. C., and any 6 justices constitute a quorum. Each judge of the court, moreover, must, at least once in every 2 years, attend a term in 1 of the 9 circuit courts in those parts of the country where those courts are held. The judicial power of the Supreme Court and of the inferior Federal courts ex tends to all cases in law and equity aris ing under the Constitution, the laws of the United States, and treaties made un der their authority; to all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers, and consuls; to all cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction; to controversies to which the United States is a party, and to controversies between two or more States or between citizens of different States, etc.; but not to suits against one of the States by citizens of another State, or by citizens or subjects of any foreign state. The Supreme Court has original jurisdistion in cases af fecting ambassadors, public ministers and consuls, and when a State is a party; but its chief jurisdiction is ap pellate. Thus it hears appeals from the
circuit courts and from certain district courts having circuit court powers; in civil actions; where the matter in dispute exceeds $5,000, or in equity and mari time cases, $2,000. But there are some cases, as, for example, in regard to pat ents and copyrights, revenue laws, and civil rights, where an appeal is allowed without regard to the value in dispute. Moreover, if decisions in the highest courts of the various States are in con vict with the Constitution, treaties, or laws of the United States, they may be appealed to the Supreme Court. The Su preme Court in 1920-1921 was composed of E. D. White, Louisiana, chief justice; associate justices, Joseph McKenna, California; 0. W. Holmes, Massa chusetts; W. R. Day, Ohio; Willis Van Devanter, Wyoming; Mahlon Pitney, New Jersey; J. C. McReynolds, Tennes see; L. D. Brandeis, Massachusetts; J. H. Clarke, Ohio.