President Van Buren influenced the process and decided to take the case to the United States Supreme Court. At that time, the Supreme Court was recognized as the highest court in America and had supreme rights in interpreting the country's constitution. Therefore, their decision on this matter had to be final, indisputable and uncontested. The president of the nation had the obligation to appoint judges after Senate confirmation. At the time, the court consisted of nine judges, including a chief justice and eight associate justices. The Supreme Court's decision could only be overturned by another supreme judge.