The Supreme Court of the United States is not a second trial court, and it does not accept every appeal. Review is almost always discretionary. A petition for a writ of certiorari must present a legal question that gives the Court a reason to grant review.
Brownstone Law’s Supreme Court lawyers help clients evaluate whether a case belongs in the Court, prepare petitions and supporting papers under the Supreme Court Rules, and coordinate strategy after a federal circuit or state high-court decision.
Robert L. Sirianni, Jr. is a member of the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States and has appeared as counsel of record on docketed petitions and applications. Brownstone Law represents clients nationwide.
Our experienced attorneys will review your case and provide feedback on your appeal options at no cost.
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Brownstone Law’s Supreme Court practice focuses on petitions for a writ of certiorari and related applications. The firm’s files include more than 115 client matters with U.S. Supreme Court / certiorari work, including petitions, extension applications, and related docket work.
The matters listed in the docket table below illustrate the firm’s filing experience. An order granting additional time to file does not mean the Court has agreed to review the case.
NOTE – Brownstone Law does not guarantee that the Court will accept a petition.
Many cases conclude in the lower courts without U.S. Supreme Court review. The Supreme Court may review decisions from the U.S. Courts of Appeals and qualifying final state-court judgments involving federal law or the U.S. Constitution. It does not ordinarily review disputes based only on state law.
Review through a petition for a writ of certiorari is discretionary. A petition generally needs to show more than an alleged mistake by the lower court. Grounds for review may include conflicting decisions among federal appellate courts or state courts of last resort on an important federal question, an unsettled issue of federal law, or a decision that conflicts with Supreme Court precedent.
For most certiorari petitions, the filing deadline is 90 days after entry of the relevant judgment or order. When a state’s highest court denies discretionary review, the period generally runs from that denial order. A timely rehearing petition in the lower court changes when the period begins, and an extension may be available in appropriate circumstances. Missing the applicable deadline can prevent Supreme Court review.
A petition for a writ of certiorari is a formal request asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review a lower court’s decision. It is not a full merits brief. Its purpose is to explain why the case warrants the Court’s discretionary review.
A writ of certiorari attorney evaluates the legal questions and prepares a petition explaining why Supreme Court review is justified.
An effective petition typically:
No. The U.S. Supreme Court grants review in only a small fraction of certiorari petitions. Most are denied without an explanatory opinion. An unfavorable lower-court decision alone does not establish grounds for review.
Brownstone Law evaluates whether a petition is justified, how to present the legal question, and what a grant or denial would mean for the client.
Preparing a certiorari petition involves evaluating the case, confirming the deadline, and complying with the Supreme Court’s filing requirements. While your particular case may involve different steps, usually the main steps are:
Review the decision you want the Supreme Court to examine and determine whether the Court has jurisdiction. Brownstone Law examines the lower-court opinions, relevant record, and procedural history to assess whether the case presents an appropriate question for review.
The deadline for most certiorari petitions is 90 days from the relevant judgment or order. The correct starting date depends on the procedural history, including any denial of discretionary review by a state’s highest court and qualifying rehearing proceedings. Confirm the applicable date before preparing the petition.
An application for additional time may be available in appropriate circumstances. Brownstone Law prepares these applications when warranted. An extension is not automatic, and an order granting more time does not mean the Court has accepted the case for review.
The petition identifies the Questions Presented and explains why the Court should grant review. It must include the required information and supporting appendix materials while meeting applicable formatting and length requirements. Its purpose differs from a merits brief addressing how an accepted case should be decided.
Follow the applicable requirements for filing, serving the other parties, paying the filing fee, and submitting paper copies and electronic documents. Eligible petitioners may request permission to proceed in forma pauperis. Filing requirements differ depending on the type of submission and whether the petitioner is represented by counsel.
The opposing party may respond or, where permitted, waive a response. The Court may also request one. A response request or distribution of the petition for consideration does not mean review has been granted. If the Court accepts the case for full review, further merits briefing and, if scheduled, oral argument follow.
If certiorari is denied, the lower-court judgment generally remains in place. Denial does not mean the Supreme Court approved the lower court’s reasoning. Any remaining remedies require a separate assessment of the case and applicable deadlines.
The U.S. Supreme Court may consider extraordinary writs, including mandamus and prohibition, in exceptional circumstances. Under Supreme Court Rule 20, a petitioner must show that the requested relief supports the Court’s appellate jurisdiction, that exceptional circumstances justify intervention, and that adequate relief is unavailable through another form or another court. These writs are not substitutes for an ordinary appeal or certiorari petition. Brownstone Law evaluates whether extraordinary relief is appropriate for the particular case.
Supreme Court review may be available in civil or criminal cases presenting significant federal legal questions. Matters may involve:
A case’s subject matter or public importance alone does not guarantee review. The Court must have jurisdiction, and the petition must explain why the legal question warrants its consideration.
Choosing counsel for a Supreme Court petition requires understanding the firm’s experience, approach, and scope of representation. Brownstone Law offers:
Supreme Court strategy usually begins earlier, in the federal circuit courts or state appellate courts. Brownstone Law handles federal appellate matters involving white-collar crime, securities and fraud, conspiracy, regulatory disputes, constitutional claims, business torts, insurance, eminent domain, and other complex civil and criminal issues.
The following selected Supreme Court dockets list Robert L. Sirianni, Jr. as counsel of record. They illustrate petitions and applications handled by the firm.
An extension granted means additional time was allowed to file a certiorari petition—not that the Court agreed to hear the case. A petition denied means the Court declined review; it is not a decision on the merits.
| Relevant event date | Docket No. / official record | Filing type | Party name | Outcome/status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2, 2022 — order | 22A88 | Application to extend time to file a certiorari petition | Earnest Eugene Padillow | Extension granted |
| Apr 5, 2023 — order | 22A870 | Application to extend time to file a certiorari petition | Hieu Minh Le | Extension granted |
| Jun 21, 2023 — order | 22A1099 | Application to extend time to file a certiorari petition | Isaac Ashton | Extension granted |
| Jul 18, 2023 — order | 23A36 | Application to extend time to file a certiorari petition | Jerry J. Davis, Jr. | Extension granted |
| Jul 18, 2023 — order | 23A39 | Application to extend time to file a certiorari petition | Micah Sherif Matthews | Extension granted |
| Nov 10, 2023 — petition filed | 23-508 | Petition for a writ of certiorari | Micah Sherif Matthews | Petition denied Jan 16, 2024 |
| Nov 20, 2023 — order | 23A435 | Application to extend time to file a certiorari petition | Ilana Bangiyev | Extension granted |
| Jun 10, 2024 — order | 23A1094 | Application to extend time to file a certiorari petition | Daniel A. Madero | Extension granted |
| Dec 18, 2024 — order | 24A601 | Application to extend time to file a certiorari petition | Anne Catherine Richard | Extension granted |
| Dec 20, 2024 — order | 24A602 | Application to extend time to file a certiorari petition | Zackery Terrell | Extension granted |
| Jan 2, 2025 — order | 24A646 | Application to extend time to file a certiorari petition | American Medical Equipment, Inc. | Extension denied |
| Jan 19, 2025 — order | 24A701 | Application to extend time to file a certiorari petition | Karl Hansen | Extension granted |
| Feb 4, 2025 — petition filed | 24-848 | Petition for a writ of certiorari | Anne Catherine Richard | Petition denied Apr 21, 2025 |
| Feb 24, 2025 — petition filed | 24-928 | Petition for a writ of certiorari | Zackery Terrell | Petition denied Apr 28, 2025 |
These are selected examples of appellate work, not a complete list. Related application and petition entries may concern the same client matter.
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different. The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements.
Contact Brownstone Law to discuss whether your case presents grounds for U.S. Supreme Court review. Our appellate attorneys can assess the relevant decision, filing deadline, and potential issues for a petition for a writ of certiorari.
Get a Free Appellate Evaluation or call (888) 233-8895 or (407) 388-1900.
The Supreme Court’s filing fee for a paid certiorari petition is $300. Eligible petitioners may seek permission to proceed in forma pauperis without paying that fee. Brownstone Law’s attorney fees are separate and quoted as a flat fee agreed before work begins. A Supreme Court petition is a separate engagement from the underlying circuit or state appeal.
Most petitions are denied. Odds improve when the petition presents a clear conflict, an important unsettled federal question, or a clean vehicle for decision—but no lawyer can ethically promise a grant. We evaluate vehicle quality and issue strength before recommending a filing.
Yes. Brownstone Law handles Supreme Court-related appellate matters, including petitions for writ of certiorari and associated strategy. Robert L. Sirianni Jr. has appeared as counsel of record on multiple Supreme Court docketed matters.
A loss in the court of appeals does not automatically create a strong Supreme Court case. You need counsel who can separate ordinary error-correction arguments from questions that meet the Court’s discretionary criteria—and who can meet the filing deadline.
A denial of certiorari generally leaves the lower-court judgment in place. It does not mean the Supreme Court agrees with that court’s reasoning. Brownstone Law can assess whether any further procedure or separate post-conviction remedy remains available, based on the case’s history and applicable rules.
The Court primarily resolves important questions of federal law and the U.S. Constitution. It does not sit to reweigh evidence or retry every dissatisfied litigant’s case.
The initial documents include the lower-court opinion, the judgment or order being challenged, and the case docket. Include any rehearing petition and the order deciding it. These records help counsel assess the legal issues, procedural history, and filing deadline.
Preparation involves reviewing the lower-court decisions and record, identifying the Questions Presented, and explaining why the federal issue warrants Supreme Court review. The petition and appendix must comply with the Court’s rules. The petition should establish reasons for review rather than simply repeat arguments from the earlier appeal.
Yes. A timely rehearing petition in the lower court generally means the 90-day period runs from the denial of rehearing or, if rehearing is granted, the subsequent judgment. The relevant filing dates and orders must be checked to calculate the deadline correctly.
A denial generally leaves the lower-court judgment in place. It does not mean the Supreme Court agrees with that court’s reasoning. Whether any further procedure or separate post-conviction remedy remains available depends on the case’s history and applicable rules.
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