Of all cases that are submitted to the Supreme Court, about what percent do they agree to hear?

Each year, about 4,500 cases are requested for review by the Supreme Court. Less than 200 cases are actually decided by the Court each year.


There are three ways for a case to make its way to the US Supreme Court.





1) There are cases in which the US Supreme Court has original jurisdiction (heard there first). Cases in which a state is a party and cases dealing with diplomatic personnel, like ambassadors, are the two examples.





2) Those cases appealed from lower federal courts can be heard at the Supreme Court. Some laws obligate (or force) the Supreme Court to hear them. But most come up for review on the writ of certiorari, a discretionary writ that the court grants or refuses at its own discretion. The writ is granted if four of the justices want it to be heard.





3) The US Supreme Court reviews appeals from state supreme courts that present substantial ';federal questions,'; usually where a constitutional right has been denied in the state courts.