POLS 4710 - Wilhelm: Moot Court - Choose a Case

Docket and Briefs

SCOTUS Blog Coverage

Moot Courts (10%): Students will be given actual cases on the current SCOTUS docket to simulate the process of oral argument and decision making in the Court. As such, each student will act as attorney, justice, or amicus (if numbers allow) in one of these cases. Students who sign-up as attorneys will work as a team to research the relevant case law, develop notes to assist presentation, and participate in oral argument before the court. Students who participate as justices will act as a justice during oral argument, conference, and decision on the merits. Students who participate as amicus will write an amicus brief to be turned into the professor before the case is scheduled for argument.

Look at the current docket (October 2025), and choose a case. 

• Click on the citation number to access the briefs.  https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docket.aspx
• 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 affiliated 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.

Hint:  The Question will give you an idea of what issue is being decided upon.

If you find the Supreme Court site a little unwieldy, Scotus Blog is a little more user friendly.  https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/terms/ot2025/

Want help from us for this assignment?  Contact info below:

Elizabeth White

elizabethwhite@uga.edu

Sheila Devaney

sdevaney@uga.edu