The recently concluded 2025-26 term of the U.S. Supreme Court has offered intriguing insights into its interim relief docket, marking a shift from previous years. According to SCOTUSblog, 123 emergency applications were resolved, including capital cases, refiled applications, and substantive applications. Notably, the term’s docket reflects a diminished presence of the Trump administration, which filed fewer applications and achieved a lower success rate than in the 2024-25 term.
The administration presented just nine applications, five of which were granted (56%), a significant drop from the previous term’s 90% success rate. This shift coincided with longer decision times for its cases, averaging 26 days, compared to 15 for others. The decline in applications was substantial; their overall number fell from 49 to 36, driven entirely by the decrease in Trump-related cases.
Despite fewer substantive applications, the court’s grant rate remained steady at approximately 50%. However, the rate of public disagreements remained high, with justices dissenting publicly in 61% of cases—an improvement from the last term but still notably above historical averages. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson led in noted dissents, underscoring continued ideological divisions.
One criticism levelled at the interim docket—limited explanations for decisions—saw some improvement. Written opinions were included with 39% of the applications, a rise from the previous term’s 31%. Additionally, the average decision time dropped significantly, a potential response to ongoing critiques, such as those outlined in an August 2025 analysis.
In terms of capital cases, 44 applications were resolved, with the court denying all 41 requests to pause executions. Refiled applications also reached a 21-term peak but were uniformly denied. For those interested in an in-depth statistical analysis of the term, the comprehensive Stat Pack may provide valuable insights.