Court Cases

U.S. Supreme Court

Joan and Irwin Jacobs Supreme Court Docket

i How do the terms work?
i How do the terms work?

All Cases

12 Supreme Court Cases during the 2013 Term

U.S. Supreme Court
May 2014
Town of Greece v. Galloway
Religious Liberty

Town of Greece v. Galloway

Whether the Establishment Clause prohibits legislative bodies from opening their meetings with sectarian prayer.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
View case
Town of Greece v. Galloway
U.S. Supreme Court
Religious Liberty

Town of Greece v. Galloway

Whether the Establishment Clause prohibits legislative bodies from opening their meetings with sectarian prayer.
May 2014
Status: Closed (Judgment)
View case
U.S. Supreme Court
Apr 2014
Schuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action
Racial Justice

Schuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action

Whether an amendment to the Michigan Constitution barring affirmative action at state universities and colleges violates federal equal protection.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
View case
Schuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action
U.S. Supreme Court
Racial Justice

Schuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action

Whether an amendment to the Michigan Constitution barring affirmative action at state universities and colleges violates federal equal protection.
Apr 2014
Status: Closed (Judgment)
View case
U.S. Supreme Court
Mar 2014
Lane v. Franks
Free Speech

Lane v. Franks

Whether the First Amendment protects a public employee who testifies truthfully, under subpoena, at a public corruption trial.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
View case
Lane v. Franks
U.S. Supreme Court
Free Speech

Lane v. Franks

Whether the First Amendment protects a public employee who testifies truthfully, under subpoena, at a public corruption trial.
Mar 2014
Status: Closed (Judgment)
View case
U.S. Supreme Court
Feb 2014
Alice Corporation Pty. Ltd. v. CLS Bank International
Free Speech

Privacy & Technology

Alice Corporation Pty. Ltd. v. CLS Bank International

Whether the idea of using a third party to settle financial accounts among financial institutions to minimize risk through the use of a computer program can properly be patented.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
View case
Alice Corporation Pty. Ltd. v. CLS Bank International
U.S. Supreme Court
Free Speech

Privacy & Technology

Alice Corporation Pty. Ltd. v. CLS Bank International

Whether the idea of using a third party to settle financial accounts among financial institutions to minimize risk through the use of a computer program can properly be patented.
Feb 2014
Status: Closed (Judgment)
View case
U.S. Supreme Court
Oct 2013
Township of Mt. Holly v. Mt. Holly Gardens Citizens in Action, Inc.
Racial Justice

Women's Rights

Township of Mt. Holly v. Mt. Holly Gardens Citizens in Action, Inc.

Whether housing policies that have a disproportionate impact on racial minorities and women violate the anti-discrimination provision of the federal Fair Housing Act.
Status: Closed (Dismissed)
View case
Township of Mt. Holly v. Mt. Holly Gardens Citizens in Action, Inc.
U.S. Supreme Court
Racial Justice

Women's Rights

Township of Mt. Holly v. Mt. Holly Gardens Citizens in Action, Inc.

Whether housing policies that have a disproportionate impact on racial minorities and women violate the anti-discrimination provision of the federal Fair Housing Act.
Oct 2013
Status: Closed (Dismissed)
View case
1
2
3

How Do Terms Work?

Between October and late June or early July the Supreme Court is “in session,” meaning it hears oral arguments, issues written decisions, and decides whether to take additional cases.

Submitting petitions

Our legal team at the ACLU files a cert petition to the U.S. Supreme Court, a type of petition that usually argues that a lower court has incorrectly decided an important question of law that violates civil rights and should be fixed to prevent similar confusion in similar cases.

term starts

U.S. Supreme Court decides to take a case

On average, the Court considers about 7,000 ‐ 8,000 petitions each term and accepts about 80 for oral argument.

Oral arguments

This is the period where the U.S. Supreme Court listens to our case in court.

U.S. Supreme Court makes final decisions

While the U.S. Supreme Court makes decisions throughout the term, many are released right before the term ends. If a decision doesn't go in our favor, we fight back!