{"id":369032,"date":"2016-04-04T10:47:07","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:47:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ability-fl-prod.internetbrands.com\/ability-law\/litigation\/legal-system\/how-does-the-u-s-supreme-court-decide-whether-to-hear-a-case.html"},"modified":"2026-07-22T12:42:18","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T17:42:18","slug":"how-does-the-u-s-supreme-court-decide-whether-to-hear-a-case","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/legal-system\/how-does-the-u-s-supreme-court-decide-whether-to-hear-a-case.html","title":{"rendered":"How Does the U.S. Supreme Court Decide Whether To Hear a Case?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 fl-sectionWithSidebar fl-container fl-flex fl-flex-wrap fl-gap30\">\n<div class=\"fl-page-articles fl-section-main fl-section-main-full-width\"><h1 class=\"fl-no-margin-top\">How Does the U.S. Supreme Court Decide Whether To Hear a Case?<\/h1>\n\n<section class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline\">\n    <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-content\">\n                    By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/samuel-strom-j-d\/\">Samuel Strom, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by <a\n                href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/melissa-bender-esq\/\">Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/a>\n                | Last updated\n        <time>\n                            July 22, 2026\n                    <\/time>\n    <\/div>\n\n    \n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-legally-reviewed\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Legally Reviewed\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/company-history\/editorial-policy.html\">our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n\n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-fast-checked\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Fact-Checked\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/contributing-authors.html\">contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=bylinelink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<div class=\"fl-key-takeaways fl-mb30\" data-testid=\"fl-key-takeaways\">\n    <div class=\"fl-card-content\">\n        <div class=\"fl-card-body fl-card-bg-teal fl-flex fl-flex-column\">\n                            <h2 class=\"fl-card-title fl-h2 fl-no-margin\">Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n                        <ul>\n<li>The nine Supreme Court justices ultimately have discretion to select which cases the court will hear, but the rationale for their decisions is unclear.<\/li>\n<li>Generally, the Supreme Court hears cases that involve a notable conflict in federal or constitutional law and will have a broad impact on the United States&#8217; legal landscape.<\/li>\n<li>A case must advance through multiple courts for trial and appeals before it reaches the Supreme Court Clerk&#8217;s Office.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div><p>U.S. Supreme Court decisions have shaped American history.\u00a0But how does the Supreme Court decide what cases to hear? If you had a dispute you wanted the Supreme Court to hear, how would you get it there?<\/p>\n<p>This article summarizes the Supreme Court&#8217;s role in the United States government and the effect of Supreme Court precedent. It also describes how the Supreme Court decides which cases to hear, including the procedure for petitioning the court to hear a case and factors the Court considers in determining whether to consider a case.<\/p>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/litigation-appeals\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">civil litigation attorney<\/a> can advise you further about advancing a specific case to the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n<h2>What Is the U.S. Supreme Court?<\/h2>\n<p>The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/constitution.findlaw.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">U.S. Constitution<\/a> is known as the supreme law of the land and grants all of our constitutional rights. Generally speaking, the U.S. Supreme Court decides whether laws and actions are constitutional or unconstitutional. Its rulings have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/civilrights\/civil-rights-overview\/civil-rights-u-s-supreme-court-decisions.html\">ended racial segregation<\/a>, enforced\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/employment\/wages-and-benefits\/wage-and-hour-laws-for-minors-and-teens.html\">child labor laws<\/a>, kept firearms away from schools, and given the federal government the teeth it needs to regulate\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/constitution.findlaw.com\/article1\/annotation28.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">interstate commerce<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>As of 2026, the Supreme Court consists of nine justices (one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices) who decide each case and controversy. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/legal-system\/how-are-judges-selected.html\">justices are nominated<\/a> by the President of the United States and confirmed by the Senate.<\/p>\n<h3>The Judicial Branch<\/h3>\n<p>The U.S. government is comprised of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/constitution.findlaw.com\/article2.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">executive branch<\/a>, the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/constitution.findlaw.com\/article1.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">legislative branch<\/a>, and the<a href=\"https:\/\/constitution.findlaw.com\/article3.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u00a0judicial branch<\/a>. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/legal-system\/introduction-to-the-u-s-legal-system.html\">three branches<\/a> derive their powers from the U.S. Constitution and are, for the most part, independent of one another.<\/p>\n<p>The judicial branch consists of the courts in the United States. The judiciary&#8217;s role is to interpret the laws passed by\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/congress.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Congress<\/a>\u00a0and executed by the executive branch. The judicial branch alone interprets federal court cases and controversies. The judicial branch, however, has no power to enforce its decisions; those powers are left to the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/legislature.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">legislature<\/a>\u00a0and executive. The other branches are, in theory, unable to influence a court&#8217;s interpretation of the law.<\/p>\n<h3>The Court of Last Resort<\/h3>\n<p>The Supreme Court of the United States is the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/legal-system\/the-u-s-supreme-court-overview.html\">highest court<\/a> of the judicial branch, also known as a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/court-of-last-resort.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">court of last resort<\/a>. A case must involve an issue of federal law or otherwise fall within the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/jurisdiction.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">jurisdiction<\/a>\u00a0of federal courts.<\/p>\n<p>A case that involves only a matter of state law or parties within a state will likely stay within the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/legal-system\/state-courts-in-depth.html\">state court system<\/a>. There, the state&#8217;s supreme court would be the court of last resort.<\/p>\n<h2>The Role of Supreme Court Precedent<\/h2>\n<p>The Supreme Court&#8217;s\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/precedent.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">precedent<\/a>, also known as prior case law, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/legal-system\/the-supremacy-clause-and-the-doctrine-of-preemption.html\">guides lower courts<\/a> in ruling on cases and controversies. The precedential opinions of the Court effectively provide the interpretation of the law that lower courts and the Supreme Court itself must follow. This legal principle is known as the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/stare-decisis.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">doctrine of stare decisis<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Although stare decisis states the Supreme Court should follow its precedent, the judiciary&#8217;s purpose is to uphold the Constitution. Thus, the Supreme Court sometimes\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/overrule.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">overrules<\/a>\u00a0its precedent if the prior decision is unconstitutional.<\/p>\n<h2>Types of Supreme Court Cases: Famous Examples<\/h2>\n<p>Supreme Court precedent has shaped the United States&#8217; history. There are too many\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/caselaw.findlaw.com\/court\/us-supreme-court\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">landmark U.S. Supreme Court decisions<\/a> to name in this article.<\/p>\n<p>The following are a few examples of notable cases:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/supreme.findlaw.com\/supreme-court-insights\/dred-scott-v-sandford-history-decision-and-impact.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i>Dredd Scott v. Sanford<\/i><\/a>\u00a0(1857):<\/strong> The Supreme Court&#8217;s decision in\u00a0<i>Dredd Scott v. Sanford<\/i>\u00a0upheld slavery in the United States.\u00a0<i>Dredd Scott<\/i>\u00a0is perhaps the most controversial decision of the Court. The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/constitution.findlaw.com\/amendment13.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Thirteenth<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/constitution.findlaw.com\/amendment14.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fourteenth Amendments<\/a>\u00a0to the U.S. Constitution later overruled the decision.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/supreme.findlaw.com\/supreme-court-insights\/gideon-v-wainwright-case-summary-what-you-need-to-know.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><strong>Gideon v. Wainwright<\/strong><\/i><\/a><strong>\u00a0(1963):<\/strong> In\u00a0<i>Gideon v. Wainwright<\/i>, the Supreme Court held that states must provide <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-rights\/right-to-counsel.html\">legal representations to\u00a0criminal defendants<\/a>\u00a0who cannot afford one. The case involved a prisoner who filed a writ of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-procedure\/writ-of-habeas-corpus.html\">habeas corpus<\/a>\u00a0because the lower court did not appoint him an attorney. The case bolstered the right to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-rights\/trial-rights.html\">due process<\/a>\u00a0for defendants involved in criminal cases.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-rights\/focus-on-the-fifth-i-miranda-v-arizona-i.html\"><i><strong>Miranda v. Arizona<\/strong><\/i><\/a><strong>\u00a0(1967):<\/strong> The landmark Supreme Court case of\u00a0<i>Miranda v. Arizona\u00a0<\/i>established that law enforcement officers must read a suspect their\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-rights\/miranda-warnings-and-police-questioning.html\">Miranda rights<\/a>\u00a0before they begin custodial interrogation. The Miranda warning apprises suspects of their right against self-incrimination (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-rights\/u-s-constitution-fifth-amendment.html\">Fifth Amendment<\/a>) and their right to counsel (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-rights\/what-the-sixth-amendment-guarantees.html\">Sixth Amendment<\/a>). The case had a profound effect on criminal law in the United States.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/supreme.findlaw.com\/supreme-court-insights\/understanding-brown-v-board-of-education-a-case-summary.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i>Brown v. Board of Education<\/i><\/a>\u00a0(1954):<\/strong> The decision of the Court in\u00a0<i>Brown v. Board of Education<\/i>\u00a0ended\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/civilrights\/discrimination\/racial-discrimination.html\">racial segregation<\/a>\u00a0in public schools. The opinion of the Court is widely regarded as one of the most important decisions in U.S. history.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/legalblogs\/federal-courts\/the-practical-impact-of-dobbs-v-jackson-womens-health\/\"><i><strong>Dobbs v. Jackson<\/strong><\/i><\/a><strong>\u00a0(2022):<\/strong> In\u00a0<i>Dobbs v. Jackson<\/i>, the Supreme Court overruled\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/caselaw.findlaw.com\/court\/us-supreme-court\/410\/113.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i>Roe v. Wade<\/i>\u00a0<\/a>(1973) by concluding that the U.S. Constitution does not provide a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/reproductive-rights\/what-are-reproductive-rights.html\">right to\u00a0abortions<\/a>. The\u00a0<i>Dobbs<\/i>\u00a0decision allows the states to decide whether to allow or ban abortions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>As illustrated by the cases above, when the Supreme Court rules on a case, it often broadly affects American society.<\/p>\n<h2>How Do Cases Move From Trial Court to the U.S. Supreme Court?<\/h2>\n<p>A lawsuit typically starts at the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/trial-court.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">trial court<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/district-court.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">federal district court<\/a>\u00a0level for\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/legal-system\/state-courts-in-depth.html\">state<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/legal-system\/introduction-to-the-federal-court-system.html\">federal<\/a>\u00a0cases, respectively. The trial judge will hear evidence and consider legal arguments from each side before issuing their opinion. If the judge decides all or part of the case against you, you can then\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/appeal.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">appeal\u00a0<\/a>the case to a higher court.<\/p>\n<p>Although court systems vary from state to state, generally, if a party appeals the trial court&#8217;s decision, a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/court-of-appeals.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">court of appeals<\/a>\u00a0will hear the appeal. A\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/circuit-court.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">circuit court\u00a0<\/a>will hear the case if a party appeals the district court&#8217;s decision.<\/p>\n<p>If a party disagrees with the appellate court, they may petition the Supreme Court to hear the case. If the Supreme Court grants a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/certiorari.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">writ of certiorari<\/a>, they will hear the case and issue the final decision.<\/p>\n<p>If you decide to appeal to the Supreme Court, the first step is to prepare a petition for certiorari. The petition is the document the Court will read to decide whether to hear a case. In the petition, you will include a history of the case, the basic facts, and the important legal issues that your case presents. Your opponent will also have a chance to file a response. Other interested parties may also file briefs in support or against the petition (<a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/amicus-curiae.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">amicus briefs<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>Your file will then go to a pool of Supreme Court clerks. They will review the documents and prior court proceedings. Then, they will summarize them for the justices and include a recommendation on whether to take the case. The justices then make a final decision as to whether they will consider the case. If they decide to hear a case, they will issue a writ of certiorari.<\/p>\n<p>If the Court chooses to hear your case, you are known as the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/petitioner.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">petitioner<\/a>, and the other party is the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/respondent.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">respondent<\/a>. The parties will often present\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/oral-argument.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">oral arguments<\/a> to the Court. This involves arguing their case and answering the justices&#8217; questions.<\/p>\n<p>Once the Court hears the case, each justice may <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/legal-system\/how-to-read-a-supreme-court-opinion.html\">write their own opinion<\/a>. In some cases where the justices agree on a case&#8217;s disposition, the Court may issue one majority opinion. In other cases where the justices split, there will be a majority opinion, which is the law of the land, and other opinions. If justices disagree, they may write a dissenting opinion. Furthermore, if a justice agrees with the majority but wants to clarify or explain an issue further, they may issue a concurring opinion.<\/p>\n<h2>How the Supreme Court Chooses Cases<\/h2>\n<p>The Supreme Court&#8217;s decision to review a particular case is discretionary. Thus, the Court generally is not required to review a case. Every year, the Supreme Court receives about 10,000 petitions for certiorari but only hears about 80 cases. The justices take a vote on whether to hear a particular case.<\/p>\n<p>The Supreme Court&#8217;s decision-making process is relatively mysterious. The justices discuss the petitions for certiorari and vote on the cases the Court will hear. The discussions and debates are private.<\/p>\n<p>But based on the cases the Court has previously heard, the following factors appear to affect the decision as to whether the Court will hear a case:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The Court will hear cases to resolve a conflict of law:<\/strong> The U.S. judicial system consists of 13 federal circuits and 50 state supreme courts. When several of these courts reach different conclusions about an issue of federal or constitutional law, the Supreme Court may take the case. The Court&#8217;s decision resolves the dispute and allows all areas of the country to operate under the same law.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The Court will hear important cases:<\/strong> Sometimes, the Court will consider a highly unusual case such as <a href=\"https:\/\/supreme.findlaw.com\/supreme_court\/landmark\/landmark418-683.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i>United States v. Nixon<\/i><\/a>\u00a0(concerning the Watergate tapes) or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/caselaw.findlaw.com\/court\/us-supreme-court\/531\/98.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i>Bush v. Gore<\/i><\/a>\u00a0(concerning the presidential election in 2000). If the Court determines the case presents an important social issue, such as abortion or the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-procedure\/death-penalty.html\">death penalty<\/a>, the Court may hear the case on certiorari.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The Court will sometimes hear cases that speak to the justices&#8217; interests:<\/strong> Sometimes, justices give preference to cases that decide an issue in one of their preferred areas of law.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The Court hears cases when lower courts disregard past Supreme Court decisions:<\/strong> If a lower court blatantly disregards a past Supreme Court decision, the court may hear the case to correct the lower court. Alternatively, it may overrule the case without comment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Generally, the Supreme Court hears important questions of law, fact, and Constitutional controversies. Thus, if law enforcement charges you with a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/misdemeanor.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">misdemeanor<\/a>, chances are the Supreme Court will not hear your petition for certiorari regarding it.<\/p>\n<h2>What Is the Supreme Court&#8217;s Shadow Docket?<\/h2>\n<p>The &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2545130\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">shadow docket<\/a>&#8221; is a term that refers to various actions of the Supreme Court that depart from procedural traditions.\u00a0The traditional process for &#8220;merits cases&#8221; includes hearing oral arguments, reviewing briefs, and issuing the court opinion. In contrast, the fast-track shadow docket generally consists of emergency orders and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/going-to-court\/what-is-a-motion.html\">motions<\/a>. These orders are not the same as formal opinions, but their high impact is similar to that of an opinion. Unlike in an opinion, justices do not include a detailed explanation of how they reached the decision.<\/p>\n<p>Examples of actions the Supreme Court may take through the shadow docket include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Approve or deny urgent responses for national events<\/li>\n<li>Reversing lower courts&#8217; rulings<\/li>\n<li>Blocking orders of lower courts that restrict new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/hirealawyer\/choosing-the-right-lawyer\/administrative-law.html\">government and administrative policies<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Extending time limits or addressing filing errors for a case<\/li>\n<li>Forcing a party to act or cease actions to provide <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/filing-a-lawsuit\/what-is-injunctive-relief.html\">injunctive relief<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These actions are within the legal authority of the Supreme Court. They allow the court to address emergencies and resolve procedural matters quickly.<\/p>\n<p>But the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/legalblogs\/federal-courts\/swift-decisions-silent-explanations-stays-of-execution-and-the-shadow-docket\/\">higher rate of shadow docket activities<\/a> in recent years has become controversial. Some legal and political experts believe this approach allows justices to influence law and politics in a highly partisan and nontransparent manner. This concern relates to a blurring of the distinctions and balance between the three branches of government, as described above.<\/p>\n<h2>Contact an Attorney<\/h2>\n<p>The last time a party appeared in front of the U.S. Supreme Court without an attorney was in 1978. Therefore, if you are considering petitioning the Court to hear your case, consider contacting an attorney. An experienced attorney can help prepare your case to present to the Court.<\/p>\n<p>Given that the Court receives approximately 10,000 petitions annually, your legal dispute will not likely make it that high up the judicial process. However, if you are involved in a legal dispute, an attorney can provide you with valuable information regarding the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Time limits to file your case, also known as the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/filing-a-lawsuit\/is-there-a-time-limit-to-file-a-lawsuit-what-are-statutes-of.html\">statute of limitations<\/a><\/li>\n<li>General information regarding\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-law-basics\/the-differences-between-a-criminal-case-and-a-civil-case.html\">criminal and civil cases<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Whether you are eligible for a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/new-trial.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">new trial<\/a><\/li>\n<li>How to prepare for an upcoming<a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/jury-trial.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u00a0jury trial<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Consider contacting an experienced\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/litigation-appeals\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">litigation attorney<\/a>\u00a0near you if you are involved in or want to file a lawsuit.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"was-this-helpful\">\n    <div\n            class=\"was-this-helpful__question-container\"\n            aria-labelledby=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n            role=\"group\"\n    >\n        <span\n                id=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__question fl-text-lg-bold\"\n        >Was this helpful?<\/span>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"Yes\"\n                value=\"yes\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">Yes<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" 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id=\"clip0_604_3418\">\n                            <rect width=\"22\" height=\"22\" fill=\"white\"><\/rect>\n                        <\/clipPath>\n                    <\/defs>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/i>\n        <\/button>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"No\"\n                value=\"no\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">No<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <g id=\"thumbs-down\" clip-path=\"url(#clip0_604_3423)\">\n                        <path id=\"Vector\"\n                              d=\"M16 0.999995H18.67C19.236 0.989986 19.7859 1.18813 20.2154 1.55681C20.645 1.9255 20.9242 2.43905 21 3V10C20.9242 10.5609 20.645 11.0745 20.2154 11.4432C19.7859 11.8119 19.236 12.01 18.67 12H16M9.00003 14V18C9.00003 18.7956 9.3161 19.5587 9.87871 20.1213C10.4413 20.6839 11.2044 21 12 21L16 12V0.999995H4.72003C4.2377 0.994543 3.76965 1.16359 3.40212 1.47599C3.0346 1.78839 2.79235 2.22309 2.72003 2.7L1.34003 11.7C1.29652 11.9866 1.31586 12.2793 1.39669 12.5577C1.47753 12.8362 1.61793 13.0937 1.80817 13.3125C1.99842 13.5313 2.23395 13.7061 2.49846 13.8248C2.76297 13.9435 3.05012 14.0033 3.34003 14H9.00003Z\"\n                              stroke=\"#666666\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n                    <\/g>\n                    <defs>\n                        <clipPath id=\"clip0_604_3423\">\n                            <rect width=\"22\" height=\"22\" fill=\"white\"\/>\n                        <\/clipPath>\n                    <\/defs>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/i>\n        <\/button>\n    <\/div>\n    <span class=\"was-this-helpful__taken-action fl-text-sm-bold\"><\/span>\n    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-container\">\n        <div class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message\" role=\"status\">\n            <p class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message-text\"><\/p>\n        <\/div>\n        <form class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form\">\n            <div class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback was-this-helpful__feedback--positive\">\n                <fieldset>\n                    <legend class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Why was this helpful?<\/legend>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--understandable\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"positive-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Easy to understand\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--understandable\"\n                        >Easy to understand<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--solved-problem\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"positive-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Solved my problem\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--solved-problem\"\n                        >Solved my problem<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--other\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"positive-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Other\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--other\"\n                        >Other<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/fieldset>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback was-this-helpful__feedback--negative\">\n                <fieldset>\n                    <legend class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Why was this not helpful?<\/legend>\n                    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message\" role=\"status\">\n                        <p class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message-text\"><\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--missing-info\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Missing Information\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--missing-info\"\n                        >Missing the information I need<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--complicated\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Too complicated\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--complicated\"\n                        >Too complicated \/ too many steps<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--dated\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Out of date\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--dated\"\n                        >Out of date<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--negative-other\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Other\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--negative-other\"\n                        >Other<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/fieldset>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"was-this-helpful__form-buttons-container\">\n                <button\n                    class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-button was-this-helpful__feedback-button--positive at-feedback-submit fl-button secondary\"\n                    type=\"submit\"\n                >\n                    <span class=\"fl-button-content\">Submit<\/span>\n                    <i\n                        class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\"\n                        aria-hidden=\"true\"\n                    ><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n                <button\n                    class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-button was-this-helpful__feedback-button--cancel fl-button primary disabled\"\n                    type=\"reset\"\n                >\n                    <span class=\"fl-button-content\">Cancel<\/span>\n                    <i\n                        class=\"fa fa-times-circle medium\"\n                        aria-hidden=\"true\"\n                    ><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/form>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message\" role=\"status\">\n        <i class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message-icon fa fa-check\"><\/i>\n        <p class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message-text\" aria-live=\"polite\"><\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"fl-section-sidebar\"><div class=\"fl-editors-summary\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary\">\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content\">\n                    <h2>Can I Solve This on My Own or Do I Need an Attorney?<\/h2>\n                <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-main\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-main\">\n            \n        <\/div>\n        <ul class=\"fl-list-style-none\">\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    You want an attorney to represent you in court or during appeals\n\n                <\/li>\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium 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An attorney can offer tailored advice and help prevent common mistakes during litigation.<\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-link fl-flex\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-link\">\n                <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                <p class=\"find-attorney\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/litigation-appeals\/#USER_GEO\/?fli=esum:FL34\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Find a local attorney<\/a><\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"email-subscription fl-mb30\">\n    <div class=\"email-subscription-header\">\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-header-content\">\n            <h3 class=\"fl-callout-sm fl-no-margin\">Stay Up-to-Date With How the Law Affects Your Life<\/h3>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-header-image fl-flex fl-items-end\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\"\n               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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>United States Supreme Court decisions have shaped history: important decisions have ended racial segregation, enforced child labor laws, kept firearms away from schools, and given the federal government the teeth it needs to regulate interstate commerce.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41135,"featured_media":0,"parent":369021,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"app\/Http\/Controllers\/Templates\/ArticleWithBreadcrumbsController.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_stopmodifiedupdate":true,"_modified_date":"","_autodraft_ids":[],"_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"_sb_is_suggestion_mode":false,"_sb_show_suggestion_boards":false,"_sb_show_comment_boards":false,"_sb_suggestion_history":"","_sb_update_block_changes":"","_is_real_time_mode":false,"_realtime_collaborators":"","footnotes":"","cf_checklist_status":["External Links","Alt Text for All Images","Category Assigned"]},"categories":[2803],"tags":[],"state_laws_tags":[],"flmsa":[],"class_list":["post-369032","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","category-litigation"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/369032","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41135"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=369032"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/369032\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":401988,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/369032\/revisions\/401988"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/369021"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=369032"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=369032"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=369032"},{"taxonomy":"state_laws_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/state_laws_tags?post=369032"},{"taxonomy":"flmsa","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/flmsa?post=369032"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}