why must the supreme court be careful in choosing the cases it will hear?

Answer 1

This also goes along with your previous question.

The Supreme Court only determines cases involving the United States Constitution and federal law. (State supreme courts decide those cases).

Still, there are thousands to choose from. Meanwhile the district courts nationwide, and the appellate courts (circuit courts) decide thousands of cases, applying the reasoning handed down by the US Supreme Court and other appellate courts.

So, generally, the US SCt takes only those cases where there is a split of authority on a significant issue. For example, if the Seventh Circuit (Illinois) says that you do not have to be told you have a right to a lawyer, but the Ninth Circuit (California) says you need to be told you have a right to a lawyer and its a constituional right, the appellate courts disagree. At this point, the Supreme Court might be inclined to take the case to give direction to the lower courts.

Also, there are some cases that, over time, lose their importance. For example, the Supreme Court (before Brown v. Board of Education) had previously ruled that separate but equal school plans were legal. They also ruled that the incarceration of japanese citizens were legal during WWII, without any evidence of guilt.

The supreme court later accepted similar cases, revisited the issue, and reversed the old case, announcing new law.

Still, there would be hundreds of cases that qualify. The Supreme Court thus takes only cases that it decides are "important."

What is an important case? An important case is any case that gets four votes to accept the appeal (it takes one less than a majority to take the case).

One discouraging note. Over the past 30 years, the number of cases accepted has steadily decreased. The number accepted is approximately 1/2 the number accepted previously.

Answer 2

Because, like generalgriev said, there are too many cases to hear. There are literally THOUSANDS of petitions sent to the Supreme Court every year from people asking for a reversal of a decision by a lower court. The Court cannot hear and decide on all of the petitions simply because of how many there are. There isn't enough time for the Court to hear more cases.

Answer 3

Because many cases are brought before the Supreme court in an attempt to actually change laws. That is not their role. Their role is to interpret the constitution and determine how the constitution applies in cases brought before them.

Answer 4

supreme court is the supreme law checking body of our nation, it is a general nature now that anyone looses case in high court appeals in supreme court, this creats a lot of problem so i think it should be careful so not to waste its time and public money.

Answer 5

there are too many to hear them all. plus the supreme court only is meant to deal with the biggest most important cases to shape national policy.

Answer 6

Because The Honorable Harold T. Stone is no longer in charge.

Answer 7

SCOTUS is the excellent authority on what's or is not constitutional. However, that doesnt imply they're infalable. They can and do revisit earlier choices (despite the fact that most commonly do not)

Answer 8

Because they don't want to accidentally get stuck with a case that might require them to make an intelligent decision.