Amicus curiae: Difference between revisions

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Amicus curiæ (Latin: friend of the court; plural amici curiæ) briefs are filed in Supreme Court cases when parties wish to bring additional information or arguments to bear on a certain case, since there is no testimony heard in front of the Supreme Court. The American Civil Liberties Union, for example, often files a brief as an amicus curiæ supporting certain sides in a case.

If a case may have effects on other parties, then they may file amicus curiæ briefs. For example, if a decision will affect an entire industry, even though it is brought up against only one company, other companies may file briefs as amicus curiæ. Similarly, if a law in one state is under evaluation, and another state has a law that would be affected by the decision, then this other state may file a brief as an amicus curiæ.

Occasionally, however, amicus curiæ are not opinions on the argument or on one part of the argument, but simply an academic persepctive. For example, if the law gives deference to a history of legislation of a certain topic, a historian may choose to evaluate the claim using his expertise. An economist, statistician, or sociologist may choose to do the same.

The court has liberty to grant or deny permission of parties to file briefs as amicus curiæ as it wishes. Generally, cases that are very controversial will attract a number of such briefs.

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+'''Amicus curi&aelig;''' ([[Latin]]: friend of the court; plural '''amici curi&aelig;''') [[brief (law)|brief]]s are filed in [[United States Supreme Court|Supreme Court]] cases when parties wish to bring additional information or arguments to bear on a certain case, since there is no testimony heard in front of the Supreme Court.  The [[American Civil Liberties Union]], for example, often files a brief as an amicus curi&aelig; supporting certain sides in a case.
-'''amicus curiae''', literally, friend of the court (Latin)
+If a case may have effects on other parties, then they may file amicus curi&aelig; briefs.  For example, if a decision will affect an entire industry, even though it is brought up against only one company, other companies may file briefs as amicus curi&aelig;.  Similarly, if a law in one state is under evaluation, and another state has a law that would be affected by the decision, then this other state may file a brief as an amicus curi&aelig;.
-Amicus curiae [[brief (law)|brief]]s are filed in [[United States Supreme Court|Supreme Court]] cases when parties wish to bring additional information or arguments to bear on a certain case, since there is no testimony heard in front of the Supreme Court.  The [[American Civil Liberties Union]], for example, often files a brief as an amicus curiae supporting certain sides in a case.
+Occasionally, however, amicus curi&aelig; are not opinions on the argument or on one part of the argument, but simply an academic persepctive.  For example, if the law gives deference to a history of legislation of a certain topic, a historian may choose to evaluate the claim using his expertise.  An economist, statistician, or sociologist may choose to do the same.
-If a case may have effects on other parties, then they may file amicus curiae briefs.  For example, if a decision will affect an entire industry, even though it is brought up against only one company, other companies may file briefs as amicus curiae.  Similarly, if a law in one state is under evaluation, and another state has a law that would be affected by the decision, then this other state may file a brief as an amicus curiae.
+The court has liberty to grant or deny permission of parties to file briefs as amicus curi&aelig; as it wishes.  Generally, cases that are very controversial will attract a number of such briefs.
-Occasionally, however, amicus curiae are not opinions on the argument or on one part of the argument, but simply an academic persepctive.  For example, if the law gives deference to a history of legislation of a certain topic, a historian may choose to evaluate the claim using his expertise.  An economist, statistician, or sociologist may choose to do the same.
-The court has liberty to grant or deny permission of parties to file briefs as amicus curiae as it wishes.  Generally, cases that are very controversial will attract a number of such briefs.