Petition for Certiorari

A party that is not satisfied with a lower court’s decision may petition an appellate court to grant a writ of certiorari, arguing that the lower court has incorrectly decided a question of law. In the federal system a party has the right to appeal a District Court decision to the Court of Appeals but must seek certiorari to appeal a Court of Appeals decision to the Supreme Court. Only a small percentage of such appeals are granted.