Our founders intended for them to be the least consequential of the three branches of government. How do I know that for a fact? Because it’s Article III. Article I is Congress, Article II is the president and Article III is the courts. If it was the most important, they wouldn’t have put it third.
Rick Santorum does not make sense. All three branches of government are necessary and provide a critical function. The Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction over all Federal and state courts. How is that not important?