You Be the Judge

Put the following steps in order on their way to the Supreme Court.

• The parties write their legal arguments in briefs and submit them to the court.

• The Supreme Court sits down in a conference to discuss and vote on the case.

• The justices write opinions explaining the reasoning behind their decisions.

• A party loses a case in a lower court and submits a writ of certiorari for the Supreme Court to hear the case.

• Attorneys for the parties appear before the justices in oral arguments and are questioned by the justices.

Match the following term with its definition

• Petition for a writ of certiorari

• An opinion disagreeing with the majority in a Supreme Court ruling.

• Original Jurisdiction

• The authority to hear a case before any other court does.

• Oral Argumments

• A formal written request to the Supreme court that it review a lower court decision.

• Dissenting Opinion

• An opinion written by a justice who agrees with the majority for a different reason.

• Concurring Opinion

• Attorneys for the parties appear before the Supreme Court to present their arguments and answer justices' questions.

Match the following

• Respondent

• A full considersation of a case, including legal briefs, oral arguments, and a decision.

• Precedent

• The party who won in the lower court but must present its arguments so the Supreme Court will agree, or affirm, with the lower court.

• Plenary Review

• Principles and guidelines from prior Supreme Court decisions.

• Majority Opinion

• The party who lost in the lower court and is bringing the case to the Supreme Court for review.

• Petitioner

• Five or more justices who agree on a decision write this type of opinion.

Match the following

• Dissenting Opinion

• The party who lost in the lower court and is bringing the case to the Supreme Court for review.

• Legal Briefs

• The authority of the court to review a lower court's decision.

• Appellate jurisdiction

• An opinion disagreeing with the majority in a Supreme Court ruling.

• Petitoner

• Principles and guidelines from prior Supreme Court decisions.

• Precedent

• Written legal arguments that parties file with the Supreme Court.

Orville was arrested for protesting on a public sidewalk about the need to stop global warming. His lawyer argued that the arrest was unconstitutional because the First Amendment gives Orville the right to speak freely and petition the government. A jury found Orville guilty and sentenced him to twenty years in prison. The appeals court affirmed (agreed with) the jury's decision. Orville's attorneys filed a ​ (a)   with the Supreme Court, asking them to hear Orville's case under its ​ (b)   authority. The Supreme Court agreed to hear the case, beginning its ​ plenary review process. As attorneys for the ​ petitioner , Orville's attorneys had to file their ​ (c)   first. At the ​ (d)   , Orville's attorneys argued forcefully that Orville's rights had been violated and the Supreme Court justices asked many questions. After discussing the case in a conference, the Supreme Court decided unanimously that Orville's First Amendment rights had been violated. Later that month, the Supreme Court issued its ​ (e)   overturning the lower court decisions and setting Orville free!

• petition for a writ of certiorari
• appellate jurisdiction
• legal brief
• oral arguments
• majority opinion
• original jurisdiction
• concurring opinion
• respondent
• dissenting opinion