The goal of this training initiative is to improve the quality of strategic planning and advocacy on behalf of death-sentenced inmates in the Supreme Court of the United States and in the process of obtaining or avoiding Supreme Court review. While all facets of Supreme Court practice will be addressed, the emphasis of the program will be on the pre-merits stages of Supreme Court litigation, including tactics and techniques for writing persuasive petitions for certiorari, opposing certiorari when the client won below, handling amici curiae, etc. The program will combine lectures with small-group case-planning sessions.