POLS 4710 - Wilhelm: Moot Court - Choose a Case

For analysis of the current docket, here are some good news sources.  Not all Supreme Court reporting is the same, and, due to its complexity, relying on the reporting from individuals with experience is useful.  Here are some sources with proven track records.

SCOTUS Blog

• Insightful Supreme Court information and commentary.
• Adds additional research to cases for context of issues.

Amicus

• Podcast by Slate's Dahlia Lithwick.

NPR's Nina Tottenberg

• Award winning legal affairs correspondent.

On the Media:  Breaking News Consumer's Handbook (Supreme Court edition)

To find information about current Supreme Court cases, SCOTUSBlog is an easy site to navigate which contains the current docket.  

https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/terms/october-term-2021/

• Where you will go to get information about the current docket.  You will choose your case from this site.  Click on the citation number to access the briefs.
• A brief is a written legal document that is presented to the court arguing why a party to the case should have a decision in their favor.
  • Amicus curiae briefs ("friend of the court") are filed by persons/groups not directly affilated with the case. These groups/persons often have an invested interest in the outcome.
  • Merit briefs are filed disclosing the facts and legal arguments of a case.  These are normally filed by the parties to the case.

Reading Supreme Court news sources has its own special difficulties.  On the Media has produced some helpful guidelines to remember when following the current docket.