Learn how the Supreme Court selects, hears, and decides cases.

The Supreme Court is the highest federal court. It chooses a small number of cases, hears arguments, issues written decisions, and shapes how the Constitution and federal law apply across the country.

“It is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is.”

— John Marshall

How a case reaches the Court

Most Supreme Court cases arrive through a petition for a writ of certiorari. The Court usually hears cases that raise major federal questions, conflicts among lower courts, or issues of national legal importance.

I.

Lower court record

Facts and legal arguments are developed in trial and appellate courts.

II.

Petition

A party asks the Court to review the lower court decision.

III.

Certiorari

Four justices must vote to grant review before the case is heard.

IV.

Briefs and argument

Parties and amici file briefs, then lawyers answer questions at oral argument.

V.

Decision

The Court issues opinions explaining the judgment and legal reasoning.

What the written opinions mean

A Supreme Court decision can include several opinions. The controlling rule depends on what a majority of justices agree to, not just the result announced at the end.

Majority

Binding reasoning

The opinion that speaks for the Court and usually controls future cases.

Concurrence

Same result, different reasoning

A justice agrees with the outcome but explains a different or narrower path.

Dissent

Disagreement

A justice explains why they believe the Court reached the wrong result or reasoning.

Where to verify Supreme Court activity

Opinions →

Official slip opinions and bound-volume opinions from the Court.

Orders →

Orders lists, including grants, denials, stays, and procedural actions.

Oral arguments →

Argument calendars, audio, transcripts, and related materials.

Docket search →

Case filings, status, parties, questions presented, and documents.

How to use this page

Use Supreme Court without getting lost.

The Supreme Court page should help visitors separate case selection, oral argument, opinions, dissents, orders, and later interpretation.

Start with facts A legal rule makes more sense after the dispute, parties, lower-court path, and question are clear.
Separate holding from impact The decision answers a legal question; later cases, agencies, and public institutions shape the impact.
Use official opinions For exact language, read the Court opinion or official court record rather than a summary.
Check jurisdiction Federal, state, trial, appeals, and Supreme Court records answer different questions.

Official starting points

Use these sources to check current text, records, deadlines, forms, votes, rules, or public notices.

Supreme Court of the United States
Supreme Court Opinions
U.S. Reports at the Library of Congress

Keep exploring

These related Guide pages help visitors connect the topic to the larger system.

Judicial Branch
Landmark Cases
Judicial Review
Federal Judges

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