The Supreme Court of the United States: Case Load and Process
The Supreme Court of the United States: Case Load and Process
The Supreme Court of the United States is an institution of paramount importance within the U.S. judicial system. Known for its critical role in interpreting the U.S. Constitution and providing final rulings on cases of national significance, the Court handles a significant number of cases each year. Understanding the process and the volume of cases the Justices review is crucial for comprehending the workload and the complexity of the judicial function.
Court Procedure and Decisions
The Supreme Court does not hear cases on an individual basis. All substantive decisions are made en banc - collectively by all nine Justices on the Court. Typically, the Court hears around 80 cases annually, although the number can significantly vary from term to term.
Substantive Cases and Full Hearings
For the 100-odd cases that receive a full hearing each year, each Justice typically participates. Occasionally, a case might be recused due to a conflict of interest or previous involvement by a Justice. In rare instances, a Justice might miss a hearing due to illness. These irregularities do not significantly affect the Court's overall process and the total number of cases heard can range from 80 to 100 annually.
Voting and Opinions
A Justice normally votes on each case and writes a majority opinion, a concurring opinion, or a dissenting opinion in a significant number of these cases. Additionally, each Justice also votes on whether to accept a petition for review, either granting “cert” or approving a petition for Habeas corpus. Altogether, there are over 1000 such petitions each year, though they often receive only brief consideration.
Tracking Case Load
To find out the exact number of cases decided by the Court each year, you can visit the Supreme Court website and select 'Opinions' from the dropdown menu. From there, you can see the current number of released opinions.
Understanding 'Heard' Cases
The term 'hearing' in this context can be ambiguous. It could refer to:
Review of petitions for certiorari, which amounts to around 10,000 cases annually. Cases where the Court takes any action (including remand or preliminary stays). This number is around 100 cases annually. Cases where the Court takes oral arguments and issues opinions. This is also around 100 cases annually.How the Cases Are Handled
Each sitting Justice hears all the cases the Court considers, given its unique role in interpreting the law. One Justice might be absent due to illness or recusal; however, this absence does not diminish the overall case load. If a Justice joins the Court after oral arguments have been heard, they do not participate in that case unless it is reargued. Thus, in recent years, the Court hears about 80-100 cases with full oral arguments annually.
The Term Overview
The term of the Supreme Court begins in October and spans until June of the following year. Within this term, decisions are issued as soon as they are ready. The process from oral arguments to a final decision can take anywhere from two weeks to several months, depending on the complexity and the workload of the Justices. Typically, a decision is not issued until all Justices have finalized their opinions and determined their votes.
Conclusion
The Supreme Court of the United States handles a significant case load each year, with Justices participating in between 80 and 100 cases that receive full oral arguments. Understanding the process and the number of cases provides valuable insight into the complexity and significance of the Court's role in the American judicial system.