Unlike lower appellate courts, the Supreme Court’s review of a case is not a matter of right, but of judicial discretion. Rule 10 of the Supreme Court’s Rules states that a petition for writ of certiorari will be granted only for compelling reasons. read more
How The Court Works | Types of Cases the Court Hears Supreme Court cases come in three varieties. Least numerous are the "original jurisdiction" actions, brought by one state against another, or between states and the federal government. read more
The United States Supreme Court is a federal court, meaning in part that it can hear cases prosecuted by the U.S. government. (The Court also decides civil cases.) The Court can also hear just about any kind of state-court case, as long as it involves federal law, including the Constitution. read more