Chapter 12Supreme Court Decision Making

Chapter 12Section 1

The Supreme Court at Work

During two-week sessions, justices hear oral arguments on cases and then meet in secret to make decisions.

The justices consider arguments in cases they have heard and petitions from plaintiffs, and then write opinions for the cases they have decided.

Justices’ written opinions interpret the law and help shape public policy.

The Court’s Procedures

More than 8,900 cases were appealed to the Supreme Court in 2000.◦ The court reviews only about 1% of these cases.

The Court gave full hearings and signed opinions in only 83 cases in 2000.

It is mainly through these few cases that the Court interprets the law and shapes public policy.

The Court’s Procedures

Writ of Certiorari◦ = an order from the Court to a lower court to send

up the records on a case for review

◦ The party seeking review petitions the Court for certiorari and must argue either that the lower court made a legal mistake in handling the case or that the case raises a significant constitutional issue.

◦ Denial of certiorari does not mean the judges agree with the original ruling, but the case may not be important enough to consider.

How Cases Reach the Court

On Appeal◦ The majority of referred Court cases concern

appeals from lower Courts.

◦ Most appeals concern cases in which a lower state or federal court has ruled laws unconstitutional.

◦ Cases the Court chooses not to hear are dismissed, and the ruling of the lower court becomes final.

How Cases Reach the Court

The Solicitor General◦ The Solicitor General is appointed by the

president and represents the federal government before the Supreme Court.

Selecting Cases◦ The Chief Justice puts worthy certiorari cases on a

list for discussion.◦ If 4 of the 9 justices agree, the case is accepted.◦ 2/3 of all certiorari cases never make the list.

How Cases Reach the Court

The Supreme Court follows a set procedure when hearing important cases:

◦ Submitting Briefs

◦ Oral Arguments

◦ The Conference

◦ Writing the Opinion

Steps in Deciding Major Cases

Each side submits a brief detailing legal arguments, facts, and precedents.◦ Brief: written statement setting for the legal

arguments, relevant facts, and precedents supporting one side of the case

Parties not directly involved but with an interest in the case my submit amicus curiae briefs.◦ Amicus Curiae: “friend of the court;” information

coming from individuals, interest groups, or government agencies claiming to have information useful to the court’s consideration of the case

Submitting Briefs

Lawyers for each side make oral arguments during which justices may ask questions.

Each side is allowed 30 minutes to summarize the key points of its case.

A white light on the lectern indicates that a lawyer has five minutes- the red light means the lawyer must stop talking immediately.

Oral Arguments

On Wednesdays and Fridays the Chief Justice presides over a secret conference in which each single case is summarized and recommendations for handling it are made.

The justices spend about 30 minutes debating each case.

Each justice has one vote and a majority vote is needed to decide a case.

The Conference

The justices may issue four kinds of opinions: a unanimous opinion, a majority opinion, a concurring opinion, or a dissenting opinion.◦ Unanimous Opinion: all justices vote the same

way◦ Majority Opinion: expresses the views of the

majority of the justices on a case◦ Concurring Opinion: written by justices who agree

with the majority’s conclusions about a case but for different reasons

◦ Dissenting Opinion: opinion of justices on the losing side in a case

Writing the Opinion

If the chief justice votes with the majority, he or she assigns a justice in the majority to write the Court’s opinion.

If the chief justice does not vote in the majority, the most senior justice with the majority assigns a justice to write the opinion.

Writing the Opinion

Chapter 12Section 2

Shaping Public Policy

The Court is both a legal and political institution.

It is a legal institution because it is ultimately responsible for settling disputes and interpreting laws.

It is a political institution because when it applies laws to specific disputes, it often determines what national policy will be.

Tools for Shaping Public Policy

The Court determines policy in three ways:◦ Using judicial review

◦ Interpreting laws

◦ Overruling or reversing its previous decisions.

The Court has become an agent of change.

Tools for Shaping Public Policy

Using judicial review, the Court may examine laws and actions at all levels of government and cancel them if they violate the Constitution.

The Court uses judicial review most often at the state and local levels, but decisions may have as much significance as those at the federal level, as in the Brown (1954) and Miranda (1966) cases.

Judicial Review

The Court’s interpretation of the very general language of laws allows it to decide how the law applies to specific situations.

The Supreme Court decides what Congress means within legislation that is signed into law.

Interpreting Laws.

The Court’s rulings become precedents on which to base other, similar decisions; however, since times change, the Court may overturn or reverse its earlier decisions.

New justices can bring different legal views to the Court and, over time, shift its position on some issues.

Overturning Other Decisions

Despite its importance, the Court does not have unlimited power.

Restrictions on the court include:◦ Limits on types of issues◦ Limits on types of cases◦ Limited control over agenda◦ Lack of enforcement power◦ Checks and balances

Limits on the Supreme Court

Generally, the Court’s decisions have dealt largely with civil liberties, economic issues, federal laws and regulations, due process, and suits against government officials.

The Court plays only a minor role in the area of foreign policy.

Limits on Types of Issues

Civil liberties cases make up the largest number of Court cases.

Appeals from prisoners comprise about one-fourth of its cases.

Most cases concern constitutional issues, such as the right to a fair trial and the proper use of evidence.

Limits on Types of Issues

By its rules and customs, the Court hears only cases where its decision will make a difference, not merely those which decide a point of law.

The Court does not issue advisory opinions.◦ Advisory Opinion: a ruling on a law or action that

has not been challenged

Limits on Types of Cases

Plaintiffs must have suffered real harm.◦ It is not enough for people to simply object to a

ruling.

Cases must involve a federal question.◦ The legal issues in dispute must affect many people

or the operation of the political system itself.

The Court avoids political issues.◦ The Court believes some issues should be worked

out in Congress or the executive.

Limits on Types of Cases

Since the Court can decide only those cases that come to it from elsewhere in the legal system, events beyond the Court’s control shape its agenda.

The Court may signal its interest in a subject by taking on a specific case.

Limited Control Over Agenda

The Court’s power to shape public policy also is limited by its own limited ability to enforce its decisions.

Noncompliance by other courts also is difficult to monitor.◦ Lower court judges may simply ignore a Supreme

Court decision.◦ It is nearly impossible to monitor millions of trial

court rulings.

Lack of Enforcement Power

The legislative and executive branches are able to influence or check the Supreme Court’s power.

The president must appoint justices and the Senate must approve those appointments.

Congress can impeach and remove justices.

Checks and Balances

Chapter 12Section 3

Influencing Court Decisions

Five forces shape the decisions the Court makes:◦ Existing laws

◦ Personal views of the justices

◦ Justices interactions with one another

◦ Social forces and public attitudes

◦ Congress and the President

Decision Making

Justices must base their opinions on the law, not on personal opinions.

Laws and the Constitution are not always clear in their meaning.

The Court must interpret laws and relate their interpretations to the Constitution itself, relevant statutes, and legal precedents.

Basing Decisions on the Law

Justices monitor important issues; some become identified with them.

As justices retire, the majority voting blocs on certain issues may change.◦ Bloc: coalitions of justices◦ One bloc is has consistently tended toward liberal

positions on civil rights and economic issues while another has been more conservative.

Views of the Justices

Modern justices meet for discussion, but most communicate in writing.

Harmony or Conflict◦ Personal relations among justices may influence

the Court’s decisions.◦ Justices try to avoid open conflict, even when they

disagree with each other. Influence of the Chief Justice

◦ The chief justice’s skillful leadership can help promote harmony.

Relations Among the Justices

Concern for Public Support◦ Although insulated from public opinion and

political pressures, the Court needs public support.

◦ Its authority depends in part on public acceptance.

Influence of Social Forces◦ Justices are influenced by the values and beliefs

of society.◦ Their decisions usually reflect important societal

changes.

The Court and Society

The President’s Influence◦ The power of presidents to fill vacancies on the

Court gives them influence over the Court.

◦ Every full-term president except Carter has appointed a justice.

◦ As head of the executive branch, the president is responsible for enforcing the Court’s decisions but may do so vigorously or with little enthusiasm.

Balancing the Court’s Power

The Influence of Congress◦ Congress has the power to limit the Court’s ability

to hear certain cases.

◦ Congress can propose a constitutional amendment to overturn a decision.

◦ May set, but not reduce, the justices’ salaries.

◦ Congress uses its confirmation power to shape the Court’s position on social issues.

Balancing the Court’s Power