The Supreme Court will grant cert and hear a case if ____________ justices agree to do so?

The Supreme Court will grant cert and hear a case if ____________ justices agree to do so?

• A. Two
• B. Three
• C. Four
• D. Five

Answer: (C)

The key idea is the Rule of Four. The Supreme Court can decide which cases to hear, but it does so only when at least four justices agree to grant certiorari, a writ that brings a lower court case up for review. This rule ensures that a minority of the Court can influence its docket, while still requiring enough interest to warrant taking a case. Since the Court has nine justices, needing four votes means a case doesn’t need a majority to be heard; it just needs four justices to signal that it merits review. If fewer than four vote to hear, the petition is denied and the lower court’s decision stands.

The key idea is the Rule of Four. The Supreme Court can decide which cases to hear, but it does so only when at least four justices agree to grant certiorari, a writ that brings a lower court case up for review. This rule ensures that a minority of the Court can influence its docket, while still requiring enough interest to warrant taking a case. Since the Court has nine justices, needing four votes means a case doesn’t need a majority to be heard; it just needs four justices to signal that it merits review. If fewer than four vote to hear, the petition is denied and the lower court’s decision stands.