The federal courts, including the Supreme Court, are designed to be independent from the executive and legislative branches of government. This is achieved through several mechanisms.
Firstly, federal judges, including Supreme Court Justices, are appointed for life by the President and confirmed by the Senate. This means that they are not subject to re-election or dismissal by political parties or elected officials, allowing them to make impartial decisions without fear of retaliation.
Secondly, the Constitution grants the judiciary the power of judicial review, which allows it to interpret the Constitution and declare actions taken by Congress or the President unconstitutional. This gives the courts a significant degree of power to check the actions of the other branches of government.
Finally, the courts are also protected by budgetary and administrative independence. Congress cannot reduce the salaries of judges while they are in office, and the Judicial Conference of the United States has authority over the administration of the courts, including budget allocation.
While there have been instances where the judiciary has been subject to political pressure or interference, these safeguards are intended to protect the courts' independence and ensure that they can act as an impartial arbiter of disputes between the other two branches of government.