Final answer:
The Supreme Court hears appeals from lower courts based on a writ of certiorari and relies on precedent when making decisions.
Only cases with significant legal questions or constitutional issues are selected. If the writ is not granted, the decision of the lower court stands.
Step-by-step explanation:
In most cases, the Supreme Court hears appeals from lower courts, such as the US Court of Appeals or a state Supreme Court.
The Court selects cases to be heard based on a writ of certiorari, which is a request for judicial review. This means that the Court will only take cases that involve a constitutional question or have differing interpretations of a law. If the writ of certiorari is granted, the Supreme Court will review the records of the lower court and make a decision.
When deciding a case, the Supreme Court relies on precedent, which refers to previously decided cases. Judges are expected to follow the principle of stare decisis, meaning they will stand on previous decisions.
They look for similarities between the current case and previous ones, and apply the rule of law from earlier cases. However, judges may disagree on which precedents apply to a case, especially if the case involves new areas of the law.
It's important to note that not all cases go to the Supreme Court. Generally, only cases with a significant legal question or constitutional issue are selected. If the Court does not grant the writ of certiorari, the decision of the lower court stands.