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The Supreme Court of the Student Body is one of the two divisions of the judicial branch of Student Government. Article VII of the Constitution provides that the Student Supreme Court is the organization with ultimate jurisdiction over controversies concerning actions of the executive branch, legislative branch, the Board of Elections, or other organizations and committees organized under the authority of the Student Constitution. This jurisdiction is extended to substantial questions of law arising under the Constitution, the laws enacted under its authority, and the governing documents of the other organizations and committees recognized under its authority.

The Court is charged with interpreting the student codes, Constitution, and other documents governing Student Government, organizations, or independent agencies. Since no other organization is authorized to issue final rulings on student-made rules which govern the Student Body, the Student Supreme Court provides a service that falls outside other student organizations or University departments/services currently in existence.

The four associate justices and the chief justice are appointed by the presidents of the two constituancies (undergraduate students and graduate and professional students) and are confirmed by a two-thirds vote of the representative body of their constituency. Each justice serves for the duration of their academic career at UNC-Chapel Hill. Therefore, in a given year, a constituency president may not be able to appoint any justices, may only be able to fill one position, or may be able to fill all open positions.