IN 1973 THE STUDY GROUP ON THE CASELOAD OF THE SUPREME COURT SUGGESTED THAT PRIOR CERTIORARI AUTHORITY BE GIVEN TO A NEW NATIONAL COURT OF APPEALS, WHICH WOULD ASSUME A SCREENING FUNCTION FOR SUPREME COURT CASES. THIS SUGGESTION HAS BEEN VIGOROUSLY OPPOSED BECAUSE IT WOULD RESTRICT ACCESS TO THE SUPREME COURT DOCKET. AN ALTERNATIVE IS SUGGESTED, A NATIONAL COURT OF APPEALS WHICH WOULD ASSUME THE SCREENING FUNCTION BUT UNDER THE SUPREME COURT'S DIRECT SUPERVISION. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT CERTAIN TYPES OF CASES BE RESERVED FOR THE SUPREME COURT ALONE: CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS, JURISDICTIONAL QUESTIONS CONCERNING FEDERAL COURTS, JUSTICIABILITY OR JUDICIAL ABSTENTION, CASES INVOLVING INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS, AND CONFLICTS OF LAWS BETWEEN FEDERAL AND STATE LAW OR DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN LAW. POSSIBLE SAFEGUARDS WHICH COULD BE ESTABLISHED TO ENSURE THAT THE NEW COURT DID NOT OVERSTEP ITS AUTHORITY ARE DISCUSSED. THE IN FORMA PAUPERIS BURDEN IS THOUGHT TO BE INEVITABLE, BUT THE NATIONAL COURT OF APEALS COULD SERVE A MEANS OF REDUCING THE SUPREME COURT'S OTHER CASE BURDENS. (GLR)