Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Law Professor Steven Vladeck joins WIRED to answer the internet’s burning questions about The United States Supreme Court. Why do Supreme Court Justices serve for life? How does a case get to the Supreme Court? Did Ruth Bader Ginsberg make a mistake by not retiring? Why did Lyndon B. Johnson nominate Thurgood Marshall? Why do we have nine justices? Professor Vladeck answers all these questions and much more.
00:00 - Supreme Court Support!
00:14 - Why do Supreme Court justices get life
01:01 - How do Supreme Court justices get appointed?
01:09 - Are confirmation hearings effective?
01:59 - Obama Drama
03:31 - Has Supreme Court ever been apolitical?
04:10 - How does a case get to the Supreme Court?
05:41 - How many cases does the Supreme Court catch a year?
06:29 - Manifest Dissent-ny
06:54 - What’s the point of a dissenting opinion?
08:08 - Who’s going to hang up the laces next?
08:51 - RBG = Boston Braves Babe Ruth?
10:03 - On a scale of 1 to 10, How ugly was the Kavanaugh confirmation?
11:13 - How did Plessy vs Ferguson change society?
12:14 - When did liberals control SCOTUS?
13:04 - Was Supreme Court liberal during Roe v Wade?
13:45 - How did Citizens United affect elections?
14:29 - Birthright citizenship?
15:28 - Has a Justice ever resigned?
16:12 - What are the duties of the Chief Justice?
16:54 - Opposite Day appointment?
17:37 - Why did LBJ nominate Thurgood Marshall?
18:21 - The Shadow Knows
19:31 - What was the first 2nd Amendment SC case?
20:05 - What would you say...you do here?
20:59 - Can the Supreme Court make law?
21:49 - Originalism or Constitutionalism?
23:04 - How do states’ rights fit in?
23:44 - How does Supreme Court overturn previous ruling?
24:28 - Why rely on precedents?
25:12 - Number 9. Number 9.
26:35 - How do you impeach a justice?
27:33 - What if you just ignore the court?
28:50 - Difference between state and federal SC?
29:23 - Who watches the Watchmen?
Director: Justin Wolfson
Director of Photography: Eric Brouse
Editor: Richard Trammell
Expert: Stephen Vladeck
Line Producer: Jamie Rasmussen
Associate Producer: Paul Gulyas; Brandon White
Production Manager: Peter Brunette
Production Coordinator: Rhyan Lark
Casting Producer: Nick Sawyer
Camera Operator: Christopher Eustache
Sound Mixer: Sean Paulsen
Post Production Supervisor: Christian Olguin
Supervising Editor: Erica DeLeo
Assistant Editor: Andy Morell
Still haven’t subscribed to WIRED on YouTube? ►► http://wrd.cm/15fP7B7
Listen to the Get WIRED podcast ►► link.chtbl.com/wired-ytc-desc
Want more WIRED? Get the magazine ►► subscribe.wired.com/subscribe/splits/wired/WIR_YouTube?source=EDT_WIR_YouTube_0_Video_Description_ZZ
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Get more incredible stories on science and tech with our daily newsletter: https://wrd.cm/DailyYT
Also, check out the free WIRED channel on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Android TV.
ABOUT WIRED
WIRED is where tomorrow is realized. Through thought-provoking stories and videos, WIRED explores the future of business, innovation, and culture.
Law Professor Steven Vladeck joins WIRED to answer the internet’s burning questions about The United States Supreme Court. Why do Supreme Court Justices serve for life? How does a case get to the Supreme Court? Did Ruth Bader Ginsberg make a mistake by not retiring? Why did Lyndon B. Johnson nominate Thurgood Marshall? Why do we have nine justices? Professor Vladeck answers all these questions and much more.
00:00 - Supreme Court Support!
00:14 - Why do Supreme Court justices get life
01:01 - How do Supreme Court justices get appointed?
01:09 - Are confirmation hearings effective?
01:59 - Obama Drama
03:31 - Has Supreme Court ever been apolitical?
04:10 - How does a case get to the Supreme Court?
05:41 - How many cases does the Supreme Court catch a year?
06:29 - Manifest Dissent-ny
06:54 - What’s the point of a dissenting opinion?
08:08 - Who’s going to hang up the laces next?
08:51 - RBG = Boston Braves Babe Ruth?
10:03 - On a scale of 1 to 10, How ugly was the Kavanaugh confirmation?
11:13 - How did Plessy vs Ferguson change society?
12:14 - When did liberals control SCOTUS?
13:04 - Was Supreme Court liberal during Roe v Wade?
13:45 - How did Citizens United affect elections?
14:29 - Birthright citizenship?
15:28 - Has a Justice ever resigned?
16:12 - What are the duties of the Chief Justice?
16:54 - Opposite Day appointment?
17:37 - Why did LBJ nominate Thurgood Marshall?
18:21 - The Shadow Knows
19:31 - What was the first 2nd Amendment SC case?
20:05 - What would you say...you do here?
20:59 - Can the Supreme Court make law?
21:49 - Originalism or Constitutionalism?
23:04 - How do states’ rights fit in?
23:44 - How does Supreme Court overturn previous ruling?
24:28 - Why rely on precedents?
25:12 - Number 9. Number 9.
26:35 - How do you impeach a justice?
27:33 - What if you just ignore the court?
28:50 - Difference between state and federal SC?
29:23 - Who watches the Watchmen?
Director: Justin Wolfson
Director of Photography: Eric Brouse
Editor: Richard Trammell
Expert: Stephen Vladeck
Line Producer: Jamie Rasmussen
Associate Producer: Paul Gulyas; Brandon White
Production Manager: Peter Brunette
Production Coordinator: Rhyan Lark
Casting Producer: Nick Sawyer
Camera Operator: Christopher Eustache
Sound Mixer: Sean Paulsen
Post Production Supervisor: Christian Olguin
Supervising Editor: Erica DeLeo
Assistant Editor: Andy Morell
Still haven’t subscribed to WIRED on YouTube? ►► http://wrd.cm/15fP7B7
Listen to the Get WIRED podcast ►► link.chtbl.com/wired-ytc-desc
Want more WIRED? Get the magazine ►► subscribe.wired.com/subscribe/splits/wired/WIR_YouTube?source=EDT_WIR_YouTube_0_Video_Description_ZZ
Follow WIRED:
Instagram ►►instagram.com/wired
Twitter ►►twitter.com/wired
Facebook ►►facebook.com/wired
Tik Tok ►►tiktok.com/@wired
Get more incredible stories on science and tech with our daily newsletter: https://wrd.cm/DailyYT
Also, check out the free WIRED channel on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Android TV.
ABOUT WIRED
WIRED is where tomorrow is realized. Through thought-provoking stories and videos, WIRED explores the future of business, innovation, and culture.
