NCJ Number
172030
Journal
Judicature Volume: 81 Issue: 2 Dated: (September-October 1997) Pages: 58-75
Date Published
1997
Length
18 pages
Annotation
These three articles examine possible reasons why only 1 percent of the cases on the docket of the US Supreme Court receive plenary consideration, the impact of term limits for Supreme Court justices, and Justice Brennan's dissent assignments.
Abstract
Possible explanations for the Supreme Court's shrinking plenary docket include external factors (a diminishing supply of new statutes that require immediate and speedy interpretation; less disagreement with the lower Federal courts) and factors internal to the Court which reflect changes in the Court's composition and case selection process. Any discussion of term limits for Supreme Court justices should consider the variables of length of service, age and disability. The article considers the "best" and "worst" justices and the possible effect that term limits might have had on their careers and the history of the Court. The third article examines Justice Brennan's dissent assignments during the years 1975 to 1989, and ideological and organizational factors in his dissents. Notes, figures, tables