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%;">Reason for Granting Cert</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 />certReason</td> <td width="34%" style="line-height:15px; text-align:center; padding:10px;"><strong>Spaeth Name</strong><br />CERT</td> <td width="33%" style="line-height:15px; text-align:center; padding:10px;"><strong>Normalizations</strong><br /> <a href='#norms'>13 [ view ]</a></td> </tr> </table> <br /> This variable provides the reason, if any, that the Court gives for granting the petition for certiorari. If the case did not arise on certiorari, this variable will be so coded even if the Court provides a reason why it agreed to hear the case. The Court, however, rarely provides a reason for taking jurisdiction by writs other than certiorari. <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;"> case did not arise on cert or cert not 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;"> federal court conflict </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;"> federal court conflict and to resolve important or significant question </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;"> putative conflict </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;"> conflict between federal court and state court </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;"> state court conflict </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;"> federal court confusion or uncertainty </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;"> state court confusion or uncertainty </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;"> federal court and state court confusion or uncertainty </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;"> to resolve important or significant question </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;"> to resolve question presented </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;"> no reason given </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="5%" style="padding-right:20px; text-align:left; vertical-align:top; height:20px; background:#fff;"> 13 </td> <td width="95%" style="background:#fff; line-height:17px;"> other reason </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="tocOn">Reason for Granting Cert</a></li> <li class="toc"><a href="documentation.php?var=lcDisposition" class="toc">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; 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