1. Granting Certiorari

2. Today’s Objective After today’s lesson, students will be able to...
Explain the meaning of writ of certiorari
Discuss the Supreme Court’s process for granting certiorari
Essential Skill:
Explicitly assess information and draw conclusions

3. The Court’s Primary Role
To resolve conflicts in lower courts; interpret the constitution, laws, and treaties of the United States

4. How Cases Get to the Supreme Court
1) Original Jurisdiction
2) Certificate on a Rule
3) Writ of Certiorari

5. Writ of Certiorari
Parties who are not satisfied with the decision of a lower court must petition the U.S. Supreme Court to hear their case. The primary means to petition the court for review is to ask it to grant a writ of certiorari.
This is a request that the Supreme Court order a lower court to send up the record of the case for review

6. Number of Petitions
In recent terms, there have been between 7,000 and 9,000 cases appealed to the Supreme Court each year.
Out of approx. 8,000 petitions in the average year, about 80 are granted (1%).

7. Deciding on Certiorari
Reasons to Decline
Absurd Claims
Frivolous Issues
Clear Denies
Lack of Percolation
Cases of Bad Facts
Pipeline Considerations
Intractable Issue
Reasons to Accept
Circuit Conflict
Importance
One of a kind case
Public interest
Capital case
Areas of interest to justices
Legal errors in lower courts
Involvement of federal government

8. Deciding to Decide Read the six petitions for certiorari
Decide whether the Supreme Court would or would not grant certiorari (listen to the case) and explain your reasoning