Printer-friendly versionHow the Supreme Court Decides an Issue... After the Justices decide to review a case, the critical phase of research begins. Each Justice has approximately 5 clerks who, along with their staff, research and determine what materials, facts, information, etc., to present to the Justice.
As each case takes shape, the clerks package and present the material for the justice. This is often where the views, beliefs and values of the clerks have the opportunity to influence the Justice’s decisions. Interpretation and understanding of the facts can be influenced at this point, depending on how the material is presented. Once the Justices receive the material, they will review it for approximately one month. Then a series of closed door conferences among the nine Justices begins. Normally there are three conferences, with the third one eliciting votes. Assenting and dissenting opinions are then written. This overview of the Supreme Court process, is just that, an overview, to help in formulating and developing more purposeful prayers. It is impossible to get a firm description of the process, as the Supreme Court tends to insulate itself from public scrutiny.