What types of cases are heard by the Supreme Court?

Every year, the Supreme Court receives about 10,000 petitions for writ of certiorari, but only hears about 80 of them. Unlike lower appellate courts, the Supreme Court’s review of a case is not a matter of right, but of judicial discretion. 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 Supreme Court can hear two types of cases: The most common type of case is an appeal, which requires that the case is first heard by a lower court. read more