Your job will be to select and read a Petitioner or Respondent’s Brief from a current U.S. Supreme Court case

QUESTION

Your job will be to select and read a Petitioner or Respondent’s Brief from a current U.S. Supreme Court case (current for our purposes means from the October 2020 Term or the October 2019 Term) and submit a report addressing questions you will find below.   To locate a Brief, please visit this website: https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/terms/ot2020/  (Links to an external site.)  (You will see this link takes you directly to the Merits Cases for the October 2020 Term), or visit this website: https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/terms/ot2019/  (Links to an external site.)

 (You will see this link takes you directly to the Merits Cases for the October 2019 Term). Review the summaries of the cases.  Click on a case of interest, scroll down to the section entitled “Proceedings and Orders”, then look for a document entitled “Brief of Petitioner…” or “Brief of Respondent…”.

Only use one of those Briefs for this assignment.  Do NOT use amicus curiae briefs or “reply” briefs.  You will then submit a report addressing the following: 1) Summarize the case issue and discuss the case history (how did the case get to the Supreme Court); and 2) Summarize the Petitioner’s/Respondent’s argument; and 3) Fully discuss the relevance of the case and its application to what you have learned in this class; and 4) Fully discuss how the issue of this case could affect other aspects of law; and 5) State how you think the Supreme Court will rule on the case and your reasons why (OR if the Supreme Court has already ruled on the case, explain whether you agree or not and why).

ANSWER Guide

1. Summarize the case issue and discuss the case history: To find a specific case, you can visit the websites you mentioned (https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/terms/ot2020/ or https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/terms/ot2019/). Scroll through the list of cases from the specified term and select one that interests you. Once you have chosen a case, review its summary, then click on the case to access the “Brief of Petitioner” or “Brief of Respondent” document. This brief will provide you with the necessary information to summarize the case issue and its history, including how the case made its way to the Supreme Court.
2. Summarize the Petitioner’s/Respondent’s argument: Within the selected brief, you will find the arguments presented by either the petitioner or the respondent. Read through the brief and summarize the main points and legal arguments put forward by the petitioner or respondent. Pay attention to the legal principles, precedents, and constitutional arguments they rely on to support their positions.
3. Discuss the relevance of the case and its application to what you have learned in this class: Analyze how the case relates to the topics covered in your class. Consider the constitutional provisions, legal doctrines, or principles discussed in class and examine how they are relevant to the case at hand. Discuss any significant implications or potential ramifications the case may have on the legal landscape or specific areas of law covered in your course.
4. Discuss how the issue of this case could affect other aspects of law: Consider the broader impact of the case beyond the specific issue at hand. Explore how the Supreme Court’s decision on this case could potentially influence or set a precedent for other areas of law. Discuss any potential effects on legal standards, practices, or interpretations that may arise from the Court’s ruling.
5. State how you think the Supreme Court will rule on the case and your reasons why (OR if the Supreme Court has already ruled on the case, explain whether you agree or not and why): If the Supreme Court has not yet ruled on the case, you can provide your own informed prediction based on your understanding of the case, the arguments presented, and your knowledge of legal principles. Support your prediction with logical reasoning, prior Supreme Court decisions, or any other relevant factors that may influence the Court’s ruling. If the Supreme Court has already ruled on the case, state whether you agree or disagree with the Court’s decision and provide your reasons based on legal analysis or personal opinion.