Litigation

Sotomayor, Kagan Changing High Court Dynamic?

By Peter Hardin

Are Supreme Court justices talking more during the high court’s oral arguments?

A Washington Post article suggests that is the case, reporting that “[t]he The Supreme Court is talking more and listening less, with new arrivals Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan proving to be aggressive additions to what was already an assertive court.”

The article seeks to support its view through evidence, citing  in oral argument transcripts a sizable increase in the number of lines of questions or remarks made by justices.

In USA Today, an article focusing on the two newest members of the court is headlined, “‘Dynamic Duo’ of Sotomayor, Kagan add vigor to court.” It explains:

“After each Supreme Court appointment in recent years, the arguments before the justices have gotten more energetic and forceful. Now, the two newest justices, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, are changing that dynamic even further ? and offering a glimpse of how they could reshape the court’s liberal wing.”

Full post as published by The Gavel on March 02, 2011 (boomark / email).