Which of the following best describes how the Supreme Court hears a case?
a. Lawyers argue their case in front of the justices and then the justices vote on which side they think is correct.
b. Lawyers have thirty minutes to vote on which side of the case is correct.
c. The Supreme Court justices read a case and then have thirty minutes to argue in front of lawyers.
d. The Supreme Court prepares arguments to make about why their opinion is correct.
The correct option that best describes how the Supreme Court hears a case is option a. Lawyers argue their case in front of the justices and then the justices vote on which side they think is correct.
To understand how the Supreme Court hears a case, let me explain the procedure in a bit more detail:
1. Petition for Certiorari: Before a case reaches the Supreme Court, parties who are dissatisfied with the lower courts' decisions can file a petition to request a review by the Supreme Court. The Court receives thousands of petitions each year but only selects a small number of cases to hear.
2. Granting Certiorari: The Court's review process begins with the justices reviewing the petitions and deciding which cases to accept. If at least four justices agree to hear a case, the Court grants certiorari, which means they agree to review the case.
3. Briefing: Once the Court agrees to hear a case, the parties involved submit written briefs to the Court. These briefs present the parties' arguments and legal analysis, providing a comprehensive overview of the case.
4. Oral Arguments: After reviewing the written briefs, the Court schedules an oral argument, during which the lawyers representing each side present their case before the justices. Typically, each lawyer is given thirty minutes to make their argument and address any questions from the justices.
5. Justices' Deliberation: After the oral arguments, the justices meet privately to discuss the case and deliberate. They consider the arguments presented by the lawyers, reference relevant legal precedents, and analyze the constitutional implications of the case.
6. Opinion Writing and Voting: Following deliberation, the justices write opinion drafts to clarify their reasoning and reach a decision. Typically, the Chief Justice (or the most senior justice in the majority, if the Chief Justice is in the minority) assigns the task of writing the majority opinion. Each justice then has an opportunity to express their views by writing a separate opinion.
7. Decision and Dissenting Opinions: Once the opinions are written, the Court announces its decision, which can either affirm, reverse, or modify the lower court's decision. Justices who disagree with the majority opinion may choose to write dissenting opinions, expressing their disagreement and outlining their reasoning.
So, the correct answer is (a) Lawyers argue their case in front of the justices, and then the justices vote on which side they think is correct.