Structure of the American Court System

Justices of the Supreme Court

How does a case get to the Supreme Court?

How Many Cases does the Supreme Court Handle?Source: Administrative Office of the Courts; Supreme Court Public Information Office.

Cases AppealedCases Decided

Getting on the Docket:Very Hard To Do!

Rule of Four

Requests for

Supreme Court review

(8,000+)

Appeals discussed

in conference

Obtains four votes

Placed on the docket

(80

Appeals denied (98% of cases)

Federal Courts

State Courts

Supreme Court Decision Making Process

By Rule of Four

Majority Needed(5 Votes)

Majority OpinionDissenting OpinionConcurring Opinion

Precedent is Set

Cases on the docket

Briefs submitted

by both sides;

amicus curiae briefs

filed

Oral argument

Conference; cases

discussed; votes taken;

opinion writing

assigned

Opinions drafted;

circulated for

comment

Decision announced

Supreme Court Nominations Since World War II

(continued)

Supreme Court Nominations Since World War II(continued)

Judicial Branch PPT Slides1. Structure of the American Court System2. Structure of the American Court System3. Jurisdiction of Federal Courts4. Supreme Court Confirmation Process5. Justices of the Supreme Court6. How Does a Case Get to the Supreme Court?7. How Many Cases does the Supreme Court Handle?8. Getting on the Docket: Very Hard to Do!9. Supreme Court Decision Making Process10. How They Vote: Liberal and Conservative Blocs on the Supreme Court11. Supreme Court Nominations Since World War II12. Supreme Court Nominations Since World War II