Anatomy of a Supreme Court Case

Name of the case/identify the parties.

Why are they in court? (what are their claims and defenses)? What are the “facts of the case,” in other words, briefly describe what happened, for example, a suspect was searched without a warrant.

What was the lower court’s decision and rationale?

Note that most Supreme Court cases are brought under the Court’s Appellate Jurisdiction, that is, its Constitutional right to hear appeals from both federal and state supreme courts.

What legal or constitutional issue does the Supreme Court address?

For example (from Brown v. Board of Education), Is it constitutionally permissible, under the Fourteenth Amendment’s equal protection clause, for states to segregate public school students on the basis of race?

What was the holding/Ruling?

That’s the majority opinion (the first one at the beginning of the case).

What was the Court’s rationale and reasoning?

Explain the logic or legal reasoning behind the majority opinion.

Do you agree or disagree and why?

Set up your thesis statement here.