Changes

Certiorari is a writ of review issued by a higher court to a lower court. A means of getting an appellate court to review a lower court's decision. If an appellate court grants a writ of certiorari, it agrees to take the appeal. (Sometimes this is referred to as "granting cert.") See also [[Writ of Certiorari]].

Certiorari is a writ of review issued by a higher court to a lower court. A means of getting an appellate court to review a lower court's decision. If an appellate court grants a writ of certiorari, it agrees to take the appeal. (Sometimes this is referred to as "granting cert.") See also [[Writ of Certiorari]].

The votes of only four Justices, not five, are required by the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] to "grant cert." and thereby accept appeal of a case.   

The votes of only four out of nine Justices, not a majority (five out of nine), are required by the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] to "grant cert." and thereby accept appeal of a case.   

If the Court declines cert., then five votes rather than four are required to grant cert. on a motion for reconsideration of that denial.  That rarely happens, but did in 2007 in the high-profile case of ''[[Boumediene v. Bush]]''.

If the Court declines cert., then five votes rather than four are required to grant cert. on a motion for reconsideration of that denial.  That rarely happens, but did in 2007 in the high-profile case of ''[[Boumediene v. Bush]]''.

[[category:legal terms]]

[[category:legal terms]]

[[category:United States Supreme Court Cases]]

[[category:United States Supreme Court Cases]]