Who is driving the conversation at the Supreme Court?

The article provides an in-depth analysis of speaking patterns and engagement during oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court for the current term, highlighting several key points:

1. Volume of Speech: The justices' share of spoken words is unusually high in some cases, indicating that they are actively shaping the conversation rather than simply asking questions. For example:

   • In Barrett v. United States, the justices spoke 53.2% of the time.
   • In Hamm v. Smith and Trump v. Slaughter, their share was around 50%.

2. Engagement Patterns:

   • Justice Jackson is described as a consistently forceful presence, with Justices Sotomayor and Kagan also heavily involved.
   • Justice Kavanaugh stands out for his active participation, suggesting he might be projecting the eventual ruling.

3. Case Characteristics: The term's highest-profile arguments involve politically consequential disputes with significant institutional stakes, often handled by elite advocates capable of absorbing extended questioning.

4. Turn-Sequence Graphs and Transcript Excerpts:

   • These visualizations show how arguments unfold in practice, highlighting dense exchanges between justices and advocates.
   • Examples from *Trump v

Read the full article at SCOTUSblog

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