The Supreme Court Database

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Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices." /> <meta name="keywords" content="supreme court, spaeth, database" /> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" /> <style type="text/css" media="screen,print">@import "includes/globalStyle.css";</style> <style type="text/css" media="screen,print">@import "fwCore/styleDebug.css";</style> <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript" src="includes/globalJs.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript" src="fwCore/jsDebug.js"></script>  <script src="//ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.8.2/jquery.min.js"></script> <script src="includes/bxSlider/jquery.bxslider.min.js"></script> <link href="includes/bxSlider/jquery.bxslider.css" rel="stylesheet" /> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="images/favicon.ico"> </head> <body> <a name="top"></a> <table width="980" align="center" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style=""> <tr> <td width="75%" style="height:90px; 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"> <div style="padding-left:0px; padding-top:5px; padding-bottom:10px; font-size:150%;">Lower Court Disposition</div> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-top:1px solid #ccc;border-bottom:1px solid #ccc; background-color:#eee;"> <tr> <td width="33%" style="line-height:15px; text-align:center; padding:10px;"><strong>Variable Name</strong><br />lcDisposition</td> <td width="34%" style="line-height:15px; text-align:center; padding:10px;"><strong>Spaeth Name</strong><br />LODIS</td> <td width="33%" style="line-height:15px; text-align:center; padding:10px;"><strong>Normalizations</strong><br /> <a href='#norms'>12 [ view ]</a></td> </tr> </table> <br /> This variable specifies the treatment the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed accorded the decision of the court it reviewed; e.g., whether the court below the Supreme Court---typically a federal court of appeals or a state supreme court---affirmed, reversed, remanded, etc. the decision of the court it reviewed---typically a trial court. <br /> <br />lcDisposition will not contain an entry if the decision the Supreme Court reviewed is that of a trial court or if the case arose under the Supreme Court's original jurisdiction (see the jurisdiction variable). The former occurs frequently in the legacy data. <br /> <br />The decision rules governing this information follow: <br /> <br />1. We adhere to the language used in the "holding" in the summary of the case on the title page or prior to Part I of the Court's opinion. Exceptions to the literal language are the following: <br /> <br />2. Where the Court overrules the lower court, we treat this a petition or motion granted. <br /> <br />3. Where the court whose decision the Supreme Court is reviewing refuses to enforce or enjoins the decision of the court, tribunal, or agency which it reviewed, we treat this as reversed. <br /> <br />4. Where the court whose decision the Supreme Court is reviewing enforces the decision of the court, tribunal, or agency which it reviewed, we treat this as affirmed. <br /> <br />5. Where the court whose decision the Supreme Court is reviewing sets aside the decision of the court, tribunal, or agency which it reviewed, we treat this as vacated; if the decision is set aside and remanded, we treat it as vacated and remanded. <br /> <br />Also see disposition of case and direction of the lower court's decision (lcDispositionDirection). <br /> <a name="norms"> </a><br /> <strong>Values:</strong><br /> <table width="100%"> <tr> <td width="5%" style="padding-right:20px; text-align:left; vertical-align:top; height:20px; background:#fff;"> 1 </td> <td width="95%" style="background:#fff; line-height:17px;"> stay, petition, or motion granted </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="5%" style="padding-right:20px; text-align:left; vertical-align:top; height:20px; background:#fff;"> 2 </td> <td width="95%" style="background:#fff; line-height:17px;"> affirmed </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="5%" style="padding-right:20px; text-align:left; vertical-align:top; height:20px; background:#fff;"> 3 </td> <td width="95%" style="background:#fff; line-height:17px;"> reversed </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="5%" style="padding-right:20px; text-align:left; vertical-align:top; height:20px; background:#fff;"> 4 </td> <td width="95%" style="background:#fff; line-height:17px;"> reversed and remanded </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="5%" style="padding-right:20px; text-align:left; vertical-align:top; height:20px; background:#fff;"> 5 </td> <td width="95%" style="background:#fff; line-height:17px;"> vacated and remanded </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="5%" style="padding-right:20px; text-align:left; vertical-align:top; height:20px; background:#fff;"> 6 </td> <td width="95%" style="background:#fff; line-height:17px;"> affirmed and reversed (or vacated) in part </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="5%" style="padding-right:20px; text-align:left; vertical-align:top; height:20px; background:#fff;"> 7 </td> <td width="95%" style="background:#fff; line-height:17px;"> affirmed and reversed (or vacated) in part and remanded </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="5%" style="padding-right:20px; text-align:left; vertical-align:top; height:20px; background:#fff;"> 8 </td> <td width="95%" style="background:#fff; line-height:17px;"> vacated </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="5%" style="padding-right:20px; text-align:left; vertical-align:top; height:20px; background:#fff;"> 9 </td> <td width="95%" style="background:#fff; line-height:17px;"> petition denied or appeal dismissed </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="5%" style="padding-right:20px; text-align:left; vertical-align:top; height:20px; background:#fff;"> 10 </td> <td width="95%" style="background:#fff; line-height:17px;"> modify </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="5%" style="padding-right:20px; text-align:left; vertical-align:top; height:20px; background:#fff;"> 11 </td> <td width="95%" style="background:#fff; line-height:17px;"> remand </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="5%" style="padding-right:20px; text-align:left; vertical-align:top; height:20px; background:#fff;"> 12 </td> <td width="95%" style="background:#fff; line-height:17px;"> unusual disposition </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td width="25%" valign="top" align="left" style="line-height:17px; padding-left:20px; border-left:1px solid #ccc;"> <div class="toc" onClick="toggleBlock('Introductory')">Introductory</div> <ul class="toc"> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=intro" class="toc">Introduction</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=cite" class="toc">Citing to the SCDB</a></li> </ul> <div class="toc" onClick="toggleBlock('Identification Variables')">Identification Variables</div> <ul class="toc"> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=caseId" class="toc">SCDB Case ID</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=docketId" class="toc">SCDB Docket ID</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=caseIssuesId" class="toc">SCDB Issues ID</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=voteId" class="toc">SCDB Vote ID</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=usCite" class="toc">U.S. Reporter Citation</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=sctCite" class="toc">Supreme Court Citation</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=ledCite" class="toc">Lawyers Edition Citation</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=lexisCite" class="toc">LEXIS Citation</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=docket" class="toc">Docket Number</a></li> </ul> <div class="toc" onClick="toggleBlock('Background Variables')">Background Variables</div> <ul class="toc"> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=caseName" class="toc">Case Name</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=petitioner" class="toc">Petitioner</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=petitionerState" class="toc">Petitioner State</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=respondent" class="toc">Respondent</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=respondentState" class="toc">Respondent State</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=jurisdiction" class="toc">Manner in which the Court takes Jurisdiction</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=adminAction" class="toc">Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=adminActionState" class="toc">Administrative Action Preceeding Litigation State</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=threeJudgeFdc" class="toc">Three-Judge District Court</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=caseOrigin" class="toc">Origin of Case</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=caseOriginState" class="toc">Origin of Case State</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=caseSource" class="toc">Source of Case</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=caseSourceState" class="toc">Source of Case State</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=lcDisagreement" class="toc">Lower Court Disagreement</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=certReason" class="toc">Reason for Granting Cert</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=lcDisposition" class="tocOn">Lower Court Disposition</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=lcDispositionDirection" class="toc">Lower Court Disposition Direction</a></li> </ul> <div class="toc" onClick="toggleBlock('Chronological Variables')">Chronological Variables</div> <ul class="toc"> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=dateDecision" class="toc">Date of Decision</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=term" class="toc">Term of Court</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=naturalCourt" class="toc">Natural Court</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=chief" class="toc">Chief Justice</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=dateArgument" class="toc">Date of Oral Argument</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=dateRearg" class="toc">Date of Reargument</a></li> </ul> <div class="toc" onClick="toggleBlock('Substantive Variables')">Substantive Variables</div> <ul class="toc"> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=issue" class="toc">Issue</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=issueArea" class="toc">Issue Area</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=decisionDirection" class="toc">Decision Direction</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=decisionDirectionDissent" class="toc">Decision Direction Dissent</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=authorityDecision1" class="toc">Authority for Decision 1</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=authorityDecision2" class="toc">Authority for Decision 2</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=lawType" class="toc">Legal Provisions Considered by the Court</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=lawSupp" class="toc">Legal Provision Supplement</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=lawMinor" class="toc">Legal Provision Minor Supplement</a></li> </ul> <div class="toc" onClick="toggleBlock('Outcome Variables')">Outcome Variables</div> <ul class="toc"> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=decisionType" class="toc">Decision Type</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=declarationUncon" class="toc">Declaration of Unconstitutionality</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=caseDisposition" class="toc">Disposition of Case</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=caseDispositionUnusual" class="toc">Unusual Disposition</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=partyWinning" class="toc">Winning Party</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=precedentAlteration" class="toc">Formal Alteration of Precedent</a></li> </ul> <div class="toc" onClick="toggleBlock('Voting & Opinion Variables')">Voting & Opinion Variables</div> <ul class="toc"> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=voteUnclear" class="toc">Vote Not Clearly Specified</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=majOpinWriter" class="toc">Majority Opinion Writer</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=majOpinAssigner" class="toc">Majority Opinion Assigner</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=splitVote" class="toc">Split Vote</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=majVotes" class="toc">Majority Votes</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=minVotes" class="toc">Minority Votes</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=justice" class="toc">Justice ID</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=justiceName" class="toc">Justice Name</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=vote" class="toc">The Vote in the Case</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=opinion" class="toc">Opinion</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=direction" class="toc">Direction of the Individual Justice's Votes</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=majority" class="toc">Majority and Minority Voting by Justice</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=firstAgreement" class="toc">First Agreement</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=secondAgreement" class="toc">Second Agreement</a></li> </td> </tr> </table> <br /> <div class="footer"> </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="5" align="right" > <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="margin-right:25px;"> <tr>  <td style="width:15px;"> </td> <td class="miniNavButton" style="background:#360; "><a href="contact.php" style="font-size:75% ;color:#fff;">CONTACT</a></td> <td style="width:15px;"> </td>   <td class="miniNavButton" style="background:#360; "><a href="#top" 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