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How does the Supreme Court serve as the final court of appeal in the United States?

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A person ascends the steps of the west facade of the United States Supreme Court Building in Washington, D.C., with its tall columns and a round fountain in the foreground. — Supreme Court of the United States The west facade of the U.S. Supreme Court building, Washington, D.C.

The Supreme Court of the United States serves as the final court of appeal and the ultimate expositor of the U.S. Constitution. As the head of the federal court system, it exercises appellate jurisdiction to review questions of law, correct lower-court errors, and ensure against excesses by lower courts.123

The Court primarily manages its caseload through the writ of certiorari. Each year, the Court receives thousands of requests for review, but it exercises almost exclusive discretion in selecting which cases to hear. Under the Rule of Four, at least four of the nine justices must agree to grant a writ of certiorari for a case to be heard.42

Once a case is accepted, the Court reviews lower-court records and briefs, hears oral arguments, and issues a formal written decision. Through the power of judicial review, the Court’s final rulings serve as the supreme law of the land, establishing controlling constitutional doctrines that lower courts are expected to follow.4