In the United States Supreme Court, before each oral argument, white quill pens are placed on the arguing attorney's tables, a tradition dating back to the earliest days of the court.  No one uses those pens for notetaking anymore, but the attorneys are permitted to keep them as a memento.  Few cases make it to the United States Supreme Court.  Legal issues of significant import must first be identified and properly raised at the trial court level.  If you win at trial, the desired outcome of most clients, then the issue is moot.  If not, then the case must work its way through the lower appellate courts.  The United States Supreme Court is the court of last resort.  Simply asking them to review a case requires the request to be printed in a special booklet format.  This publication process alone costs several thousand dollars and, if your case happens to be one of the few selected for review, the publication process must be repeated several times. So, if you want to appeal your case all the way to the United States Supreme Court, bring your check book along with your case.