Supreme Court Case Tracker

Glossary

Remand

Supreme Court glossaryAll terms

Definition

A remand sends a case back to a lower court for more proceedings after the reviewing court acts.

Why it matters

A Supreme Court remand tells the lower court to apply the Court's ruling, reconsider the case, or take another required step.

In practice

Remands appear in merits opinions, summary orders, and grant-vacate-remand orders when more lower-court work is needed.

Ask what instruction the lower court received and whether the Supreme Court resolved the central merits question.

Common confusion

Remand does not always mean the Supreme Court decided every issue. Some questions may remain for the lower court.

Examples

Before ArgumentsIn Re Gerald Nelson, PetitionerGerald Nelson asks the Supreme Court to review whether a federal circuit court should have ordered a case returned to state court after its removal to federal court. The petition raises questions about federal jurisdiction over labor claims under Section 301 of the Labor Management Relations Act, the availability of mandamus to require remand, and alleged misrepresentations concerning jurisdiction.Remand issue25-6193 Before ArgumentsJames Patrick Burns v. United StatesJames Patrick Burns asks the Supreme Court to review a Ninth Circuit decision concerning whether the government may obtain IP addresses and basic subscriber information tied to online accounts without violating the Fourth Amendment. He also asks the Court to consider sending the case back for reconsideration after Chatrie v. United States, a pending case that may address privacy expectations in electronic data.Remand issue25-7500 Before ArgumentsChristina Casarez v. Irigoyen Farms, Inc.Christina Casarez asks the Court to set aside a California decision that treated her wrongful-death and negligence claims arising from a fatal truck crash as preempted by the federal FAAAA. She argues that the decision conflicts with Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC and that shippers and receivers not named in the statute cannot invoke its preemption provision.Remand issue25-1421

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