How does the Supreme Court decide which cases to hear?

The Supreme Court receives thousands of petitions each year but typically hears only about 60 to 80 cases. Parties seeking review file a petition for a writ of certiorari, asking the Court to take the case. The justices then apply what is informally called the "Rule of Four," meaning at least four of the nine justices must agree to grant certiorari for a case to be accepted. The Court generally prioritizes cases involving conflicts between federal circuit courts on the same legal question, cases raising significant constitutional issues, or cases where a lower court has ruled against the federal government. The Court has almost complete discretion over its docket and denies the vast majority of petitions without explanation.