Essay On Supreme Court's Secret Power

Words: 616
Pages: 3
Open Document
Out of all the branches of government, there is a pretty good perk to being on the Supreme Court - nearly complete discretion in setting in their agenda.

Thousands of cases come to the Court every year. Thousands. Yet, less than a hundred are actually selected for primetime. The interesting aspect stems from the fact that the justices themselves decide which cases they want to hear.

Being cognizant that such cases could eventually have large-scale impact on the nation, this is an extraordinary power. Moreover, the fact that only four justices need to grant certiorari under the Rule of Four, makes the number seem like a rather small margin when a verdict on a case could affect millions.

While yes, just because a case is heard by the Supreme Court, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they will affirm the decision. However, it is important to recognize that a case on gay marriage or abortion wouldn’t be heard unless the Court wants it to be heard. It has been mentioned in Losco/Baker that the Court can deny certiorari if the issue is one that the justices would like to avoid (pg. 355). While the justices would have good reason to deny certiorari to such cases, issues that they want to avoid sometimes are matters that do need to be addressed. …show more content…
If others often vote to hear petitions from civil rights groups but never from state or local governments defending their policies, the public should know this, too.”

When the Court selects the cases themselves, we do not always know if such cases represent the best interest of the nation. The people, who ultimately are the ones to enforce the Court’s decision, do not get a say in these
Show More

Related Documents: Essay On Supreme Court's Secret Power

Fifth Amendment Research Paper

Sadie Smith Professor Toolsie History 109 20, April, 2024. First Amendment The Bill of Rights, ratified in 1791, and written by James Madison, was created as a solution, protecting individual liberties by limiting federal government power. The founding fathers, along with James Madison felt it was needed in order to ensure that there was no potential for tyranny, like what happened when under British rule, after the French and Indian War 1763. The First Amendment, or known as the Voltaire Amendment…

Words 1940 - Pages 8

An Analysis Of The National Labor Relations Act

optimism has given way to cynicism and despair about the law’s ability to protect workers and enhance collective bargaining. This Essay provides tentative suggestions for structuring a legislative agenda that would make basic labor law more even handed and protective of basic worker rights. Recognizing that basic labor law is currently not a friend to unions, the Essay concludes that even though efforts to improve it are likely to meet with significant resistance, they are, nevertheless, worth the…

Words 7108 - Pages 29

the fun Essay

Congress and the Right to Privacy An Introductory Essay by Donald R. Wolfensberger For the Congress Project Seminar on “Congress and Individual Privacy in a New Security Age” Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Monday, May 15, 2006 We are rapidly entering the age of no privacy, where everyone is open to surveillance at all times; where there are no secrets from government. –Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas (1966) An American has no sense of privacy. He does not know…

Words 4717 - Pages 19