Answer :
Answer:
The Supreme Court is a federal court and hears cases based on constitutional and federal laws. They hear cases prosecuted by the United States as well as cases prosecuted against the United States ( a state, citizen, or business can sue the United States) or constitutional and federal law issues.
The courts decision to hear a case is important because they only hear 150 to 200 appellate cases per year and your case is chosen on the merits, the constitution, and the federal laws in which your suit is prosecuted.
Explanation:
The Constitution states that the Supreme Court has both original and appellate jurisdiction. Original jurisdiction means that the Supreme Court is the first, and only, Court to hear a case. The Constitution limits original jurisdiction cases to those involving disputes between the states or disputes arising among ambassadors and other high-ranking ministers. Appellate jurisdiction means that the Court has the authority to review the decisions of lower courts. Most of the cases the Supreme Court hears are appeals from lower courts.
A party seeking to appeal to the Supreme Court from a lower court decision must file a writ of certiorari. ... This is referred to as "granting certiorari," often abbreviated as "cert." If four Justices do not agree to review the case, the Court will not hear the case. This is defined as denying certiorari.They only hear about 150 to 200 cases per year and it grants certiorari (or “cert”) when it agrees to decide a case. (Grants of cert are quite rare.)
ADDITIONAL INFO... I'm a litigation paralegal. I spent 10 years with the United States Federal Court of the Eastern District in Michigan and know the Supreme Court rule and procedures:)