U.S. Supreme Court

The U.S. Supreme Court conducts appellate review hearings of lower-court decisions, relying on written briefs and oral arguments by counsel for the parties to help the justices formulate opinions as to cases' outcomes. The number of petitions from parties seeking to have the Supreme Court grant a hearing on their appeal far exceeds the number of cases the justices are able (or willing) to take on. For the very few cases that reach the Supreme Court, there is a highly structured, formalized process waiting. Should a petitioner succeed in obtaining a hearing, his or her attorneys will be able to submit written briefs and participate in oral arguments. Thereafter, the case will fall entirely within the justices' domain; processing of the case will include an ...