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Simple English definitions for legal terms
four, rule of
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A quick definition of four, rule of:
Four, Rule of: The rule of four is a convention that states that for the U.S. Supreme Court to grant certiorari, which is a request to review a lower court's decision, at least four justices must vote in favor of it. This means that if less than four justices vote in favor of granting certiorari, the request will be denied.
A more thorough explanation:
The rule of four is a convention in the United States Supreme Court that requires at least four justices to vote in favor of granting a writ of certiorari for a case to be heard by the court. A writ of certiorari is a request for the court to review a lower court's decision.
For example, if a party wants the Supreme Court to review a decision made by a federal court of appeals, they must file a petition for a writ of certiorari. If at least four justices vote in favor of granting the writ, the case will be heard by the Supreme Court.
The rule of four ensures that the Supreme Court does not waste its time and resources on cases that do not have significant legal implications or do not involve important constitutional issues. It also allows the court to focus on cases that have a greater impact on society.