SCOTUS: Behind the Curtain

Robinson Bradshaw attorneys Mark Hiller and Erik Zimmerman, joined by North Carolina Solicitor General Ryan Park, provided insights on the work of the U.S. Supreme Court. Their unique perspectives as former U.S. Supreme Court law clerks provided the basis for an entertaining and informative discussion. Attendees learned, as far as obligations of confidentiality allowed, about the Court’s internal processes for choosing and deciding its cases. They also heard about effective strategies for securing Supreme Court review and for winning on the merits. Specific topics included:

• Cert petitions: How the Court handles and decides cert petitions, and techniques for preparing an effective petition.
• The merits: The Court’s approach to briefs, oral argument and opinions, and how to advocate effectively at the merits stage.
• The emergency, or “shadow,” docket: The recent growth in filings that ask the Court for emergency relief, how the Court has responded, and strategies for seeking emergency relief.