How does the Supreme Court Decide Which Cases to Hear?
As stated earlier, the Louisiana Supreme Court must hear all cases involving disciplinary actions against lawyers and judges, all cases in which a law or ordinance has been declared unconstitutional, and all capital cases where the death penalty has been imposed. All other cases, and these are those involving litigants who are not satisfied with the outcome of their cases in a lower court, are not heard unless the Supreme Court grants an application for writs to review the case. A majority of the justices must agree to hear the case. Whether or not to grant writs rests within the sound discretion of the Supreme Court; however, one or more of the following five reasons are usually present if the Court decides to hear a case: 1. CONFLICTING DECISIONS: This means that the decision of the lower court conflicts with the decision of a court of appeal, a decision of the Louisiana Supreme Court or a decision of the United States Supreme Court on the same legal issue. 2. SIGNIFICANT UNRESOLVED
