Blog Post #3: The Powers and Abilities of the U.S. Supreme Court

After watching the videos about the Supreme Court, I know that there is a lot more that goes into being a Supreme Court Justice than meets the eye. I thought that it was interesting how the Supreme Court is one of, if not, the only court systems in the world that has the power to keep other government branches in check. The justices also have to keep the faith of the people in their positions, so they can make the right decisions when it comes to make cases and verdicts.

Based on the accounts that some of the justices said, they practice hospitality and respect towards one another in their offices. They also have to take on the cases that are appealed to the Supreme Court and make decisions that align with the Constitution and Amendments. Lawyers need to be well-trained in the law and governing in order to make a fair verdict on the decisions of the case, otherwise, the decisions made within the courtroom would not be sound. As some of the judges were interviewed on their experiences, many mentioned how nervous they were at first to enter the courtroom, but became used to the team that they worked with. The use of having 9 judges in the courtroom leads to varied opinions on different aspects of a specific case, as well as how to best decide the outcome. I can understand how the judges have to be so precise and why they face so much pressure. Having to take on roles where you decide verdicts that are based on the founding laws within the country are important, and that is a lot of pressure to have to deal with. Fortunately for the judges, they are on a team with one another to work through the issues they face with having to interpret the Constitution and the laws that govern our lives.

As for something I did not know, I did not know that only 100 cases that are appealed are actually seen and tried in the court. I am surprised that it was so few that actually made it to the Supreme Court. I know that the justices are very busy, so in retrospect, I would know that they would have to skip over some cases that come their way. An important takeaway I got from the video and my personal knowledge, is that the judges in our court system are in their roles until they die. I am surprised that such a role like being a judge is so demanding to the point that retirement from the position is not really an option. Overall, our judges serve an important role to define our basic rights and freedoms within our country, through the interpretation of the Constitution, amendments, and laws that govern our lives.

Sources:

Davis Stephens. (2013, Sep. 11). Comm3390 Supreme Court, Pt. 1 [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWRoXYRsaeo.

Davis Stephens. (2013, Sep. 11). Comm3390 Supreme Court, Pt. 2 [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca8qSuWxcG8.

Blog Post #2: Internet Privacy and its Daily Effects on our Lives

The videos we watched in class really opened my eyes to how careful we need to be online in this day and age. It is so easy for people to access this information, and through research and methods, I want to be better at using encryption systems and better internet safety measures on a daily basis.

When we performed the activity in class where we had to look up our own names, I was surprised to find images of myself at different events after a few minutes of searching. I was interviewed for receiving a scholarship to attend the university, and I forgot that the article has my picture which is now publicly available on the internet. The TED videos we watched in class also showed how much of a problem the devices cause around us, and I think about all of my different accounts on multiple platforms that different companies may have access to.

Based on the information given, I want to be much safer online and when I go out. A problem I have found is that it is hard to disconnect from a system that a user has used for a long while, but it is a good habit to change the ways that I have used to utilize the internet as a whole. For starters, I could get a VPN to protect myself online, and many YouTube channels I've watched have been sponsored by cheap, yet effective options in terms of VPNs to use. As long as I subscribe to a VPN that will keep my encrypted information safe, the better. I also know that it is worth the money to have, especially with how cheap some options are to purchase and use. 

One topic I wanted to mention relating to Internet Privacy is the escalating issue of cyber-bullying. Fortunately, I have never faced cyber-bullying myself, but there may be some people around me who are silently suffering, feeling that there is no way out of the situation. Because of how widespread technology is, many people can stay anonymous (or will think that they are anonymous) and can cause a lot of damage to someone's reputation, often an issue or threat of blackmail in bad relationships. The TED Talk presented by Darieth Chisolm focused on digital domestic violence touched up on the issues of cyber-revenge, and the terrible processes to arrest perpetrators of a crime. However, if the proper authorities can't track people, then it's hard to charge the right perpetrator for a crime.

One last thing I want to mention is how there are emerging systems to combat different forms of hacking and privacy violations. After watching Andy Yen's TED Talk on ProtonMail, a startup that he and his team made, I want to research if I want to use ProtonMail to send my emails, or if I can add a VPN extension for all of the devices I use on a daily basis. Here's a link to the TED Talk if you want to watch it.

As a whole, the advances of technology are a great thing, but it is very important to be safer on the internet now more than ever, especially with what motivations some people may have. Having my important information just out for everyone to see does not make me feel comfortable, and I want to take steps to better myself and my internet safety as a whole.

Sources:

Chisolm, D. (2018, June). How revenge porn turns lives upside down [Video]. TED. https://www.ted.com/talks/darieth_chisolm_how_revenge_porn_turns_lives_upside_down.

Yen, A. (2014, Oct.). Think your email's private? Think again [Video]. TED. https://www.ted.com/talks/andy_yen_think_your_email_s_private_think_again#.