As judicial observers increasingly turn an analytical eye towards the less publicized aspects of the U.S. Supreme Court, the introduction of the first Interim Relief Docket Stat Pack marks a significant milestone in Supreme Court scholarship. While the court’s merits docket enjoys comprehensive scrutiny, its interim relief or “shadow” docket often eludes such attention.
This newly launched Stat Pack provides a detailed statistical portrait of the Supreme Court’s applications for the 2024-25 term, covering cases filed from October 7, 2024, to October 5, 2025. Over the years since the court’s 2000-01 term, data has been meticulously collected on applications for relief, and the current Stat Pack reflects this extensive research. It comprehensively analyzes 130 applications in three distinct categories: 49 capital cases, 32 refiled applications, and 49 substantive applications encompassing challenges to lower court rulings and administrative disputes.
Key findings reveal an interesting shift in the court’s approach. For instance, the court granted relief in 53% of substantive applications, a notable increase from the 23% rate observed in the prior term. Furthermore, public disagreements among justices reached 76% in substantive cases, greatly surpassing the historical average.
The Trump administration played a prominent role during this term, with 27 substantive applications filed, obtaining relief in 90% of these cases. The Stat Pack highlights how ideological lines often guided dissent, as evidenced by the low unanimity rate of 9% in Trump-related cases.
Additionally, the docket’s transparency has improved, with written opinions accompanying 31% of substantive applications, continuing an upward trend from recent years. This suggests the shadow docket is becoming more visible, a change welcomed by many in the legal community.
In providing these insights, the Interim Relief Docket Stat Pack is poised to become an essential tool for legal professionals and scholars seeking to understand the evolving dynamics of the current court. The Stat Pack is available for download, offering a comprehensive resource for those interested in the nuances of the Supreme Court’s interim docket.