Law and the Supreme Court

I. Structure of the Federal Judiciary

A. Federal Court Structure Over Time

1. Judiciary Act of 1789

2. Court of Appeals Act of 1891 (Evarts Act)

3. Judge’s Bill of 1925

B. Dual Court System

1. One State, One Federal

2. Three Levels

3. Procedure (trial/appellate)

I. Structure of the Federal Judiciary

A. Judicial Review of Other Branches

1. Marbury v. Madison (1803)

2. Criticisms of Marbury

II. Supreme Court Decision-Making

B. Decision-Making Process

1. Writ of Certiorari

2. Rule of Four

3. Writ of Appeal

II. Supreme Court Decision-Making

C. Hearing Cases

1. Docket

2. Court Caseload/Jurisdiction

a. Ex parte McCardle (1869)

3. Proceeding Before the Court

a. Amicus Curiae

b. In forma Pauperis (IFP)

c. Writ of Habeas Corpus

II. Supreme Court Decision-Making

II. Supreme Court Decision-Making D. Decisional Process

1. Cert. Pool

2. Case Selection Criteria:

a. Solicitor General

b. Conflict Among Lower Cts.

c. Amici briefs

3. Oral Argument

4. Conference

5. Opinion-Writing

a. Majority

b. Per Curiam

c. Plurality

d. Concurring

e. Dissenting

II. Supreme Court Decision-MakingF. Locating the Law

1. Reporters (Vol.-Reporter-Page (date))

a. U.S., S.Ct., L.Ed., U.S.L.W.

b. F.3d, F. Supp.

2. Shepard’s Citations

3. Statutes (U.S.C.A.)

4. Administrative Regs.

5. Law Review Articles

II. Supreme Court Decision-Making

F. The Justices