Wednesday: Law & Civics
What principle states that at least four justices must agree to grant a writ of certiorari for a case to be heard by the Supreme Court?
Hint: It takes fewer justices to agree to hear a case than it does to make a ruling.
The Rule of Four is a principle used by the United States Supreme Court to determine whether a case will be granted a writ of certiorari and reviewed by the Court.
Under this rule, at least four of the nine justices must vote in favor of hearing a case.
This system is designed to prevent a simple majority from controlling the Court’s docket and ensures that cases with significant constitutional or legal questions have a chance to be reviewed, even if they do not yet have broad support among all justices.
The Rule of Four plays a crucial role in shaping the Court’s caseload and influences which legal issues receive national attention.
