SUPREME COURT

the highest appellate court in most jurisdictions and in the federal court system. it is usually the appellate state court of last resort, and in the absence of a federal question, its decisions cannot be reviewed by other courts and must be respected. In some states this court is an inferior court and not the court of last resort.
In the federal court system, the United States Supreme Court is expressly provided for in the Constitution, which vests judicial power in "one Supreme Court" and such inferior courts as Congress shall establish. It consists of a Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the US Senate. Source: Barron's Dictionary of Legal Terms, Steven H. Gifis, 5th Edition; © 2016