Between 2010 and 2020, 243 amicus briefs were filed in criminal, quasi-criminal (habeas corpus), juvenile justice, attorney discipline and mental health cases.  Appellants’ amici were on the winning side in 68.42% of their cases, while respondents’ amici won only 40.66%.

Appellants’ amici ran the board, winning all their cases in three areas of law: mental health cases, property crimes and sexual offenses.  On the other hand, the only appellants’ amicus during these 11 years in an attorney discipline case was on the losing side.  Three-quarters of appellants amici in criminal procedure cases won.  From there, we have constitutional law (74.19%), sentencing law (72.73%), juvenile justice (57.89%), violent crimes and habeas corpus (50% each) and death penalty (25%).

All seventeen respondents’ amici in attorney discipline cases wound up on the winning side.  All respondents’ amici in mental health, property crimes and sexual offenses cases lost.  Respondents’ amici won 44.44% in violent crimes cases, 41.67% in juvenile justice cases, one-third in sentencing law, 29.41% in criminal procedure, and 16.67% in constitutional law and habeas corpus cases.

Join us back here later this week as we continue our review of the amicus data.

Image courtesy of Flickr by Tom Hilton (no changes).