Supreme Court Cases

U.S. Supreme Court records have become very important when crafting arguments for current cases before all levels of court by establishing precedent and becoming part of the United States’ case law. Supreme Court Justices hear arguments and publish decisions and opinions through a variety of avenues for the public to access. This court’s history has contributed to several groundbreaking cases referenced in literature, legal reviews and current court opinions. Here, you’ll find information about how a case is heard by the court, effects of opinions of the Justices, and how to find records from current and past U.S. Supreme Court cases.

Power of the U.S. Supreme Court

The U.S. Supreme Court, also known as the “High Court,” is the highest level of court available in the federal court system. This court has the ability to agree to appellate review, or to hear cases from lower courts when petitioned to do so. Upon receiving one of these “cert petitions,” the Justices may determine whether there are grounds to hear arguments in the case based on interpretation or application of the law by the lower court, or lack of a fair trial. In addition, the U.S. Supreme Court may exercise its powers through judicial review, by supporting or denying actions of both the legislative and executive branches of the U.S. government.

Opinions of the U.S. Supreme Court

When the U.S. Supreme Court hears and decides a case, majority and dissenting opinions become of interest to the parties involved and the onlooking public and members of the legal community. Majority opinions are those of the majority vote, explaining the Justices’ reasoning and interpretations to come to their conclusions. These opinions become part of case law, referenced in future cases and legal research.

Dissenting opinions, or the minority vote, are also frequently published by Justices disagreeing with the majority in a matter based on different interpretations of the evidence, case or laws before them. These opinions are frequently cited as well by attorneys and civilians for persuasion purposes to prove the validity of an alternate view in a case.

Finding Case Records from the Supreme Court

Public search engines, as well as the official U.S. Supreme Court’s website provide records from past cases and current dockets. These records will frequently provide topical information about the arguments at hand, any references to past court opinions, as well as the parties involved.  These case listings will provide the petitioner first and the defendant second such as in the following: Roe v. Wade.

Each year, the United States Reports are printed and include hardcopy information about Supreme Court cases, amendments to procedures and rules, and details of current and past Justices such as deaths or retirements. These reports include a topical index, the Supreme Court’s Rules and the Federal Rules of Procedure for reference purposes.

Reasons for seeking access to these records typically fall into one of two categories. Either the individual is simply conducting research for personal, professional or academic reasons, or they are involved in a case that may use a former opinion and decision to their benefit. These case files are a matter of public record, and invaluable resource when learning about how current laws are interpreted and why groundbreaking cases are frequently referenced in the Court of Law and everyday civilian arenas.