nless otherwise noted, the losing party in each of these cases appealed to the Supreme Court. Which case would the Supreme Court most likely choose to hear?

Question

A.
Case 1: Case 1 is made up of many merged cases about the denial of Fourteenth Amendment protections to a minority group of citizens. All plaintiffs were successful at first. On appeal, one US Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the decision, while another affirmed it.

B.
Case 2: Case 2 concerns enforcement of a new state law. Plaintiffs asserted that the law violated the state constitution. The case was appealed several times and was heard by the state supreme court, which held that the law did not violate the state constitution.

C.
Case 3: Case 3 is a criminal case in which a defendant claimed that the trial court made an error by allowing evidence collected by officers who went beyond the scope of their warrant. On appeal, the district court agreed that the defendant’s Fourth Amendment rights were violated and ordered a retrial.

D.
Case 4: Case 4 concerns a controversial state law that is set to go into effect soon. Opponents argue that it violates the Constitution and want the courts to stop it to protect the people from harm. No lower courts have heard this case yet.

Answer 1

In determining which case the Supreme Court would most likely choose to hear, we should consider factors such as the significance of the legal issues involved, conflicting rulings in lower courts, and the urgency of the case.

A. Case 1 presents a significant constitutional issue involving the denial of Fourteenth Amendment protections to a minority group, with different rulings from US Circuit Courts creating a split in the interpretation of federal constitutional law. This is a compelling reason for the Supreme Court to hear the case, as they often take cases that address conflicting rulings to ensure consistent application of federal law.

B. Case 2 deals with a state constitutional issue that has already been resolved by the state supreme court. The Supreme Court typically focuses on issues of federal law or how state laws may conflict with the Constitution, making it less likely they would take this case.

C. Case 3 involves a defendant's Fourth Amendment rights. While the issues of criminal procedure and constitutional rights are significant, the decision has already been made by the district court, resulting in a retrial. It may not be urgent for the Supreme Court to intervene at this point since a remedy has been established.

D. Case 4, while addressing a controversial state law and the potential for harm to the public, has not yet been heard by lower courts. The Supreme Court generally prefers to allow lower courts to address legal issues before they take up a case.

Considering these factors, A. Case 1 would likely be the case the Supreme Court would most choose to hear due to the constitutional implications, the significance of protecting minority rights, and the conflicting rulings among circuit courts.