Professor William Aceves Spotlighted in New York Times for Critique of Supreme Court Filing Rules
SAN DIEGO (July 9, 2025) — California Western School of Law (CWSL) Professor William Aceves is prominently featured in a recent New York Times article by Adam Liptak, highlighting the U.S. Supreme Court’s continued reliance on burdensome paper filings, despite widespread digitization across the federal judiciary.
The article, “In Digital Era, Supreme Court Insists on Vast Piles of Paper,” cites Professor Aceves’s recent study, “Ending the Paper Chase at the U.S. Supreme Court,” published in the University of Colorado Law Review last month. In his novel study, Professor Aceves critiques the Court’s requirement for litigants to submit multiple paper copies of petitions, which must be printed in a very specific and costly booklet format, even after they have submitted them electronically.
In his article, Professor Aceves noted that the Court’s rules result in the production of more than five million sheets of paper annually for preliminary filings alone. “If stacked, these documents would reach beyond the height of the tallest building in the United States,” he wrote. The Times article notes that nearly all such petitions are denied without full consideration, raising questions about the necessity of such elaborate submissions. According to Professor Aceves, the Court’s rules generate needless waste, impose administrative burdens, and cause environmental harm. He also called out its impact on low-income litigants: “forcing litigants to spend hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on processing, printing, filing and serving unneeded documents does not facilitate an open and accessible justice system,”
The article was informed by Professor Aceves’s own practice experience at the Supreme Court. He has served as amicus counsel in many cases. While Professor Aceves acknowledges that the Court faces many structural challenges, “in the realm of proposed Supreme Court reforms, this seems attainable.”
About William J. Aceves, Chief Justice Roger Traynor Professor of Law
Professor William Aceves specializes in constitutional law, human rights, and international law. He is widely recognized for his work with Amnesty International, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and other leading human rights organizations. He is the author of The Anatomy of Torture and coauthor of The Law of Consular Access and has published extensively on civil rights and human rights. Professor Aceves has appeared before international human rights bodies and several U.S. courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. He is a member of the American Law Institute and serves on the governing boards for the ACLU, the American Branch of the International Law Association, and the Center for Justice & Accountability.
About California Western School of Law
For 100 years, California Western School of Law (CWSL) has trained practice-ready lawyers and thoughtful advocates for justice. As the first and longest-running law school in San Diego, CWSL remains committed to providing students with the fundamental knowledge, skills, and real-world experience to thrive in a rapidly evolving legal landscape. CWSL enrolls a student body representative of our diverse society, amplifying access to opportunities for social and economic mobility. Tailored programming allows students to focus on specific areas of interest, and distinguished faculty are dedicated to student growth and scholarship on critical social issues. The law school emphasizes practical, hands-on training through clinics, internships, externships, and pro bono service. CWSL is committed to excellence in education, nurturing compassionate legal professionals who use the law effectively and creatively to solve complex human and societal problems. For more information, visit www.CWSL.edu.