Since the vast majority of cases never make it to the Supreme Court, these life-tenured judges will be the final authority on some of the most controversial issues in American life.

由于绝大多数案件都无法上呈到最高法院，在解决美国人民生活中一些最具争议性问题时，这些终身任职的法官就成了真正落锤定音的权威。