The United States Supreme Court met for the first time on March 1, 1790, in New York City, then the nation’s capital. This first session marked the beginning of the Court’s role as the highest judicial authority in the country. Initially, the Court had little to do and heard very few cases, but its constitutional position was already significant. Over time, the Supreme Court grew into a powerful branch that could review laws and executive actions. This first meeting laid the institutional groundwork for judicial review and federal interpretation of the Constitution. It also helped define how the judiciary would interact with Congress and the presidency in the new republic.
