Final answer:
The Supreme Court chooses to hear appellate cases that present significant constitutional questions, issues of federal law, or conflicting lower court interpretations. Few cases that petition via writ of certiorari are accepted, requiring at least four justices to agree to hear them. Influences such as legal precedent, law clerks, and the solicitor general also play roles in the court's decision-making process.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Supreme Court selects appellate cases to hear based on certain characteristics. These cases mostly come through a writ of certiorari, a judicial review request from a lower court decision.
The Supreme Court hears cases on appeal unless it is a case involving a state or certain diplomatic representatives, which falls under its original jurisdiction. Cases involving substantial questions of federal law, constitutional issues, or significant legal interpretations are more likely to be granted certiorari. The Court will often decline to review cases where the legal question is considered insignificant or if they agree with the lower court's decision. Four justices must vote in favor of hearing a case for it to proceed to the Supreme Court.
In addition to these factors, influences on the Court such as its law clerks, the solicitor general, interest groups, and mass media, as well as legal, personal, ideological, and political considerations, also impact the Court's decision-making. The Court's role, while interpretive, is confined by the case's facts, applicable laws, constitutional constraints, and judicial precedent. Recognizing the dual court system of the United States, we should note that while many cases are presented each year, less than a hundred are chosen for review.