How many requests for certiorari does the Supreme Court receive in a typical year?

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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.

In a typical year, the Supreme Court of the United States receives approximately 7,000 requests for certiorari.1

While the number of these requests has increased fivefold since World War II, the Court exercises its discretion to hear only about 80 cases per term. For the Court to grant a writ of certiorari and review a case, at least four of the nine justices must agree to do so, a practice known as the "Rule of Four".12