What is the purpose of the Rule of Four in the Supreme Court?

The Rule of Four serves a crucial role in the Supreme Court's decision-making process regarding which cases to hear. Specifically, it stipulates that if four justices agree to grant a writ of certiorari, the Court will review the case. This is significant because it ensures that a minority of justices can select cases that they believe are of substantial legal importance or interest, even if the majority does not initially agree. This mechanism allows for a diverse range of issues to be considered and can lead to the Court addressing critical questions that might otherwise be overlooked.

In contrast, the other options describe different aspects of judicial processes that do not accurately reflect the intent or function of the Rule of Four. For example, the idea of denying a case by four justices is not aligned with how decisions about case selection are structured. Additionally, the Rule of Four does not pertain to majority rule in case decisions or establish quorum requirements; those concepts relate to different aspects of how the Court operates and reaches conclusions on cases once they are accepted for review.