Filing Instructions Too Hard, Says Supreme Court Justice
If only there was someone who had the job of reading and interpreting the law.
Supreme Court
Scalia: Equal Protection for Ladies? Nobody Voted for That
Here are a couple of quotes you may find interesting: No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life,…
NYT: Supreme Court Using More Words, and Making Less Sense, Than Ever
Last week, the New York Times reported that the median length of U.S. Supreme Court majority opinions has more than doubled since 1953, and during the 2009 term that number reached an all-time high of 4,751 words. Adam Liptak wrote that…
Two Leave Legal Profession
First, as you have likely heard, Justice John Paul Stevens announced today that he will retire at the end of the Court's current term. The announcement comes just 11 days short of the Justice's 90th birthday, and, not that it…
Justice Stevens: Never Been Recognized, Except Once at the Video Store
There are more good tidbits in the series of C-SPAN interviews of Supreme Court justices, the series in which Justice Scalia suggested that smart lawyers should find something more productive to do. In his interview, Justice John Paul Stevens was…
Justice Scalia Calls for Dumbing-Down of the Legal Profession
Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported on an anecdote from a set of interviews that all the Supreme Court justices recently granted to C-SPAN. This week is "Supreme Court Week" on C-SPAN, and that should attract more viewers than the channel's next biggest draw, the long-running…
New Supreme Court Portrait Reveals Lack of Consensus
On whether or not to look at the camera, anyway: Actually, that does not appear to be the final official portrait. Good thing, because this almost seems like one of those band photos where they all insist on broodingly staring off in…
People, Please Stop Hiding Things in Justice Breyer’s Pants
In my experience, people did sometimes stick things in my underwear. [laughter] Or, not my underwear . . . whatever. Whatever. I was the one who did it? I don't know. I mean I don't think it's beyond human experience….
Justice Thomas Still Fascinated by Dishwashers
Speaking to a group of students on April 13 at a dinner sponsored by the Bill of Rights Institute, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas admitted that he is perpetually enthralled by the Miracle of the Dishwashing Machine: I have to admit…
Harvard Professor Opines on Scalia’s “Gollywaddles”
Last month, Jay Wexler spoke to noted language expert Steven Pinker and asked him where Justice Scalia might have come up with the term "gollywaddles," which Scalia used during oral argument this term in FCC v. Fox Television Stations. Wexler…