Comment Re:What is the actual last step? (Score 1) 96
Some rulings are made by partial ("panel") courts, for expedience, and when that happens the option exists to request the same court reconsider the ruling, but with a full bench ("en banc" court). That's what's going on here. This pattern of panel/en banc rulings exists at both appeals courts and SCOTUS.
Stop making stuff up. There's no such thing as a panel for SCOTUS. Every case is heard en banc.