What is discretionary review?

Discretionary review is a legal process where a higher court has the option to decide whether to hear an appeal from a lower court's decision. Unlike mandatory review, where the higher court must hear all cases that meet certain criteria, discretionary review allows the court to choose which cases to take based on factors like significance, legal questions involved, or conflicting rulings. This process is commonly seen in appellate courts, such as the U.S. Supreme Court, which selectively reviews cases to address important legal issues or resolve inconsistencies in the law.