What must occur for the Supreme Court to hear a case?

For the Supreme Court to hear a case, it must typically come through an appeal process, generally from a circuit court. This aligns with the court's role as the highest appellate court in the United States. When a lower court, such as a circuit court, makes a ruling, parties dissatisfied with that ruling can appeal to the Supreme Court, which has the discretion to choose which cases it will hear.

While there are other avenues and criteria, such as cases of national significance or cases involving states, these do not universally guarantee that the Supreme Court will take the case. The fundamental pathway is through the appellate process where the case has been previously adjudicated in lower courts. Therefore, understanding the appeals process is crucial to grasp how the Supreme Court functions within the judicial system.