The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is set to begin its October 2024 term without hearing any appeals from state criminal convictions, marking a significant trend in the court's docket. This absence of cases is part of a broader decline in the number of criminal procedure cases reaching the Supreme Court, which has raised concerns about the implications for the justice system. Legal experts have noted that the lack of direct appeals from state convictions could have negative downstream effects, as highlighted in recent discussions surrounding the court's responsibilities in addressing state-level criminal justice issues. Additionally, the current backlog in sentencing has reached record highs, further complicating the landscape of criminal justice in the U.S.