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Scalia dead. How are SCOTUS decisions made with even number of justices? (Original Post) valerief Feb 2016 OP
This is a BFD! R. Daneel Olivaw Feb 2016 #1
I believe tie votes sharp_stick Feb 2016 #2
The appellate decision stands in a tie IIRC tritsofme Feb 2016 #3
Thanks for the info! valerief Feb 2016 #5
Thanks mcar Feb 2016 #6
No precedent is set in a 4-4 tie. Ruling goes to appeals court. CommonSenseDemocrat Feb 2016 #4
Thanks valerief Feb 2016 #7
If the justices are evenly split, the lower court ruling being appealed is affirmed and holds. Shrike47 Feb 2016 #8
I can't wait to read what Marcy Wheeler has so say about Scalia's death and what happens now. myrna minx Feb 2016 #9
They go into lightning round. If that too ends in a tie, then it's a dance off. Bucky Feb 2016 #10
Ha! Or a Zoolander Walk Off valerief Feb 2016 #11
Cool deal. Ruth Bader is in perpetual Blue Steel mode Bucky Feb 2016 #17
What part of the constitution is that in? Dr. Strange Feb 2016 #14
More shit the activist courts have decided. valerief Feb 2016 #16
"The judgment is affirmed by an equally divided court." pat_k Feb 2016 #12
I'm betting on a recess appointment and soon. yourout Feb 2016 #13
A tie means the lower court decision stands davidn3600 Feb 2016 #15

sharp_stick

(14,400 posts)
2. I believe tie votes
Sat Feb 13, 2016, 06:21 PM
Feb 2016

are considered defeats for the plaintiff.
Someone else may know better than me though.

Bucky

(54,027 posts)
10. They go into lightning round. If that too ends in a tie, then it's a dance off.
Sat Feb 13, 2016, 06:27 PM
Feb 2016

Of course the days of the legendary Ginsberg-Scalia dance-offs are now over.

pat_k

(9,313 posts)
12. "The judgment is affirmed by an equally divided court."
Sat Feb 13, 2016, 06:35 PM
Feb 2016

When a 4-4 deadlock does occur, the case is not deemed to have set any sort of precedent. Tradition holds that the court's per curiam opinion in such ties is usually very, very terse, often consisting of no more than a single sentence: "The judgment is affirmed by an equally divided court."

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2004/11/what_happens_in_ascotus_tie.html

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