How the Supreme Court Decides Which Cases to Hear
Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer talked about the process that the Supreme Court uses to select only a few court cases out of the millions of state and federal cases each year. He explained the appellate process and the criteria that justices use to determine if a case should be heard by the Supreme Court.
Description
Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer talked about the process that the Supreme Court uses to select only a few court cases out of the millions of state and federal cases each year. He explained the appellate process and the criteria that justices use to determine if a case should be heard by the Supreme Court.
Bell Ringer Assignment
- Explain the process that court cases go from their initial trial to when they are reviewed by the Supreme Court?
- What does Justice Breyer mean by cases having a "federal question?" Why is this one of the factors in selecting Supreme Court cases?
- Around how many cases are heard each year in the Supreme Court?
- How do justices and their clerks review all of their potential cases?
- Explain the criteria that is used to decide which cases to hear.
- Explain the process at the conference in which the Supreme Court discusses and votes on which cases to hear.
Additional Resources
Participants
Alan SolomontDean, Tufts University6 Videos
Vocabulary
- Appeal
- Criteria
- Federal Law
- Federal Question
- Judge
- Jury
- Law Clerk
- Lower Courts
- Memo
- State Court