Constitutional Law
Sample Brief
1. Source of the case and procedure by which it reached the Supreme Court
2. Pertinent facts of the case.
3. Specific question of the case (i.e., what does the petitioner demand of the respondent?)
4. Constitutional question(s) of the case.
5. Name of the Justice writing for the Court and names of Justices joining in the opinion.
6. Reasoning of the Court (i.e., the rationale' supporting the decision).
7. Answer to the specific question of the case (i.e., what did the Court decide about the demands of the & participants?)
8. Answer to the constitutional question(s) (i.e., what were the constitutional interpretations developed in this case?)
9. Political significance of the case.
10. Summary of concurring opinion(s), if any (NOTE: take care to indicate clearly the point(s) of divergence from the opinion of the Court).
11. Summary of dissenting opinion(s), if any (NOTE: take care to indicate clearly the point(s) of divergence from the opinion of the Court).