They have done something. If these cases were an "API fantasy" why put the cases on the docket? They didn't even have to move the cases to conference.
If you think they will not rubber stamp Obama...oh well.
Yes they do. Every eligible case submitted to the Supreme Court has to be reviewed by the justices. All 8000-plus per year. Sometimes the justice for the district where it was filed will deny it. But then the plaintiff can take it to the other justices individually. Scheduling it for conference settles the matter once and for all. Only through a vote in conference can a case be scheduled for a hearing before the whole court. If it doesn't make it out of conference then it's dead.