The courts help protect the little guy, even when the majority is against him. Courts provide a check on power, makes sure the constitution is not being violated, and ensures that laws are being applied fairly and consistently. Branches like Congress and even the President may not take a strong stance on v=certain issue because of the political divide. The courts are not concerned with the political landscape; they are concerned with making sure the law is fair and just to all. An example is Obergefell v Hodges: The Supreme Court case that legalized same sex marriages nationwide. This was a law that many states had already passed, but there were many other states that still held that same sex marriage was illegal. This law would have never been a long battle to get passed in Congress and the President may not have signed an executive order. The Court based its decision on the constitution and not on opinion and personal convictions.

The appointment of judges may seem very anti-democratic; however, if implemented the correct way, it is beneficial to society. Even though federal judges are appointed, many of them have careers that began on the state level, where they were part of some election. They are appointed after years of service and a proven track record of integrity, morals, prudence, and ethics. The President, who we elect, appoints the judges, while the Senate, who we elect, confirm the judges. There are checks and balances throughout the process. The lifetime tenure of a federal judge speaks to the concern raised in the Federalist #10 document. The concern is that the majority, the mob, will control the government. A lifetime tenure ensures that the judges aren’t influenced by those in power, but they are guided by the constitution.