Question

Identify and explain the steps of a Supreme Court case. Begin with how the Supreme Court selects cases and then explain the actual steps of a Supreme Court hearing of a case. Lastly, explain the three types of opinions issued by the justices afterward.

Answer 1

Ans. Steps of a Supreme Court case:

There is a series of steps which is followed by the supreme court before announcing the result.

1. How supreme Court select cases: The judges at the supreme court are highly qualified. They use the "Rule of Four" to decide if they will select the case. Out of nine justices if four justices fell that the case has value and is worth selecting, they will grant a petition. This cases usually come from the federal courts, but the court sometimes hear from the state supreme court as well.
2. The lawyer submit briefs: After the case is selected the lawyers of both parties have to submit a brief description about the case so that it can be understand by everyone and can be take further.
3. The Clerk, operator, schedules oral arguments on the docket, court's calender: Now, the date is to be fixed on which the case will be heard in the court.
4. The justices read all briefs and lower court documents: the justice reads all the brief that he have on the case which is submitted by the lawyers of each party .
5. The justices listen to oral arguments: Now, the justice listens to the oral arguments of the lawyers of parties, gives permission for any witness to testify and  make a statement at the end.
6. One justice is assigned to write the official opinion of the Court: one justice is assigned to write the opinions of the court on the case.
7. The justices hold a case conference to discuss issues and take a vote: Now, the justice fixes a conference to discuss the result of the case. This conference is done to discuss issues and allow jury to make a vote.  
8. The decision is released to the parties and the general public: Finally, as per the number of votes received the final decision is taken. This decision is now released to the parties and also released to the general public.

The three types of opinions issued by the justices afterward are:

1. Majority Opinion: Almost every case has a majority opinion, It expresses the reasons the court is deciding the case the way it is.
2. Concurring Opinion: A justice will write this type of opinion when they generally agree with the majority opinion but want to make a specific point that the majority choose not to,
3. Dissenting Opinion: This is the kind of opinion when the justice writing it disagrees with the result of the majority opinion. A dissenting opinion is an opinion written by one or more judges expressing disagreement with the majority opinion. A dissenting opinion does not create binding precedent nor does it become a part of case law. However, they are cited from time to time as a persuasive authority when arguing that the court's holding should be limited or overturned.