Deciding Cases at the Supreme Court

1. Deciding Cases at the Supreme Court 8-4

2. 8-4 Objectives • 1. Explain the steps taken by the Supreme Court in deciding which cases to hear. • 2. Describe the factors that influence Supreme Court decisions.

3. 1. When is the Supreme Court in session? • October to June or July

4. 2. How many justices have to agree before the Court will accept a case? • 4 to 9 justices have to agree to accept a case

5. 3. What is a Court “docket”? • A docket is a calendar listing the accepted cases to be heard by the Supreme Court

6. 4. Why do lawyers prepare briefs for the Court? • Lawyers prepare briefs to explain their side’s position on the case. The justices study the briefs before the case is heard.

7. 5. What is the difference b/w a majority opinion, a dissenting opinion, and a concurring opinion? • Majority opinion is a statement that explains the opinion of the majority of justices on the case • Dissenting opinion is the statement written by a justice who disagrees with the majority opinion. • Concurring opinion is an opinion written by a justice who votes w/ the majority, but for different reasons.

8. 6. Why must the Supreme Court print its opinion? • Courts around the country use the Supreme Court’s decisions as precedents

9. 7. What are 4 reasons behind Supreme Court’s decisions? • The law, social conditions, the justices’ legal views and the justices’ personal beliefs

10. 8. Why are precedents important in Supreme Court decision making? • All courts try to follow precedents to make the law predictable and consistent