Get UT Pro Se Guide Procedures for Filing Petition for Writ of Certiorari 2009-2024

A party who wants the Supreme Court to review a decision of a federal or state court files a "petition for writ of certiorari" in the Supreme Court. ... A minimum of four of the nine justices is required to grant a writ of certiorari, referred to as the "rule of four".

Petition for Writ of Certiorari. (informally called "Cert Petition.") A document which a losing party files with the Supreme Court asking the Supreme Court to review the decision of a lower court.

A type of writ, meant for rare use, by which an appellate court decides to review a case at its discretion. The word certiorari comes from Law Latin and means "to be more fully informed." A writ of certiorari orders a lower court to deliver its record in a case so that the higher court may review it.

Granting a writ of certiorari means merely that at least four of the justices have determined that the circumstances described in the petition are sufficient to warrant review by the Court.

Writs of Certiorari Parties who are not satisfied with the decision of a lower court must petition the U.S. Supreme Court to hear their case. The primary means to petition the court for review is to ask it to grant a writ of certiorari. ... According to these rules, four of the nine Justices must vote to accept a case.

A writ of certiorari is a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to hear an appeal from a lower court. The word certiorari comes from a Latin word meaning to be more fully informed. The act of granting certiorari means the Supreme Court agrees to hear a case.

The Supreme Court decides to hear a case based on at least four of the nine Justices of the Supreme Court agreeing to grant the Petition for Certiorari. If four Justices agree to grant the petition, the Supreme Court will consider the case. ... A petition for Writ Certiorari is a request that the court hear your case.

Typically, the Court hears cases that have been decided in either an appropriate U.S. Court of Appeals or the highest Court in a given state (if the state court decided a Constitutional issue). The Supreme Court has its own set of rules. According to these rules, four of the nine Justices must vote to accept a case.

If the judge decides all or part of the case against you, you can then appeal the case to a higher court. When you have appealed as far as possible, you can consider appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court. ... The justices then make a final decision. If they decide to hear a case, they will issue a "writ of certiorari."

It should be noted that in order for the United States Supreme Court to hear an appeal from a lower court, four of the nine justices must vote to grant a writ of certiorari. These are the ways a case may reach the United States Supreme Court.

Article III, Section II of the Constitution establishes the jurisdiction (legal ability to hear a case) of the Supreme Court. The Court has original jurisdiction (a case is tried before the Court) over certain cases, e.g., suits between two or more states and/or cases involving ambassadors and other public ministers.

A petition seeking review of the final judgment by the court of last resort below must be filed within 90 days of the entry of that judgment. Q: How long does it take the Court to act, once a petition has been filed? A: On the average, about six weeks.

Generally, the response to a petition is anywhere from a couple of months to six months. Just because an appeal is made to the supreme court does not mean they will agree to hear it. The U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear over 99% of the cases brought before it each year.

The Supreme Court decides to hear a case based on at least four of the nine Justices of the Supreme Court agreeing to grant the Petition for Certiorari. If four Justices agree to grant the petition, the Supreme Court will consider the case. ... A petition for Writ Certiorari is a request that the court hear your case.

Typically, two cases are heard each day, beginning at 10 a.m. Each case is allotted an hour for arguments. During this time, lawyers for each party have a half hour to make their best legal case to the Justices. Most of this time, however, is spent answering the Justices' questions.