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The only cases that currently go directly to the US Supreme Court under original (trial) jurisdiction are disputes between the states. The Court may elect to hear cases brought against ambassadors under original jurisdiction at their discretion, but typically allow the US District Courts to hold trials for those cases.
Explanation
The U.S. Supreme Court functions primarily as an appellate court; however, there are a limited number of cases for which they have original jurisdiction. Article III, Section 2 lists the following types of legal disputes under the Supreme Court's original jurisdiction:
- all cases between two or more States;
- all cases affecting Ambassadors, other public ministers and Consuls;
Disputes between the states are heard exclusively by the Supreme Court, but Congress amended federal law to allow US District Courts to hold concurrent original jurisdiction over cases involving ambassadors, etc.
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RafaA case may be appealed to the US Supreme Court if the case involves a preserved federal question, only after all other avenues of appeal are exhausted, unless there is a compelling reason for the case to go directly from the trial court to the Supreme Court. Compelling reasons may include legislation requiring expedited appeal, or expediency if the case involves major constitutional issues and is clearly destined for the Supreme Court anyway.
A preserved federal question is an issue of (often unclear or unresolved) federal or constitutional law that has been raised at every judicial level, from the trial court through appeals.
Such cases may be petitioned to the US Supreme Court from either the state or federal court system.
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What happens if the Supreme Court refuses to hear a case on appeal from the lower courts?
The ruling of the court below the Supreme Court will be upheld. The Supreme Court is similar to an appeals court. If they don't want to take the case, then whatever the court ruling was will stand.
What has to happen for the Supreme Court to hear a case from a US District Court?
Generally, the US Supreme Court will hear a case from US District Court on direct or expedited appeal if:The case is of such national or constitutional importance it would clearly be appealed to and accepted by the Supreme Court anyway; orThe case involves legislation in which Congress specified appeals of District Court decisions must go directly to the Supreme Court (bypassing the Circuit Court).
Highest court in the judicial branch?
The simple answer is "the Supreme Court," but that isn't entirely accurate.If the case involves federal law, then the United States Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority.If the case involves state law then the state's highest court is on "top." Usually this court is called the state supreme court, such as the California Supreme Court, but it might be called something else. Massachusetts calls its top court the Supreme Judicial Court, and New York calls its highest court the Court of Appeals. Interestingly, a supreme court in New York is an ordinary trial court.On a question purely of state law, not even the United States Supreme Court can go against the highest court of the state.
3 ways cases reach the supreme court?
Under original (trial) jurisdiction (disputes between the states);Under appellate jurisdiction from federal courts;Under appellate jurisdiction from the states if the other avenues of appeal have been exhausted and the case involves a preserved federal question.
Which party files in order to get a case before the US Supreme Court?
Typically, whoever lost the last appeal petitions the Supreme Court to hear the case; however, either party may file.If the Court grants certiorari (agrees to hear the case), the appellant (party appealing the case) has an advantage when filing briefs and during oral arguments because they get to go first and rebut (answer) the opposing party's argument after the other party has spoken. If a case is clearly headed to the Supreme Court on appeal, both parties attempt to gain an edge by preempting the other.
