The Amicus Machine

If you dream of arguing a case to SCOTUS, this new study may dash your hopes. It suggests that SCOTUS doesn’t seriously consider cases that lack an “amicus wrangler” (someone to recruit the right amici) and an “amicus whisperer” (someone to coordinate the wrangled amici’s messages). Just one amicus brief by any ole lawyer won’t do the trick. Think several amici–each one represented by a member of a select group of SCOTUS specialists. Turns out they shape the court’s docket more than anyone. The authors attempt to defend this clubby practice as being very helpful to the modern court. See if they persuade you.