April 19, 2007, 22:11
Martin PetersonBlowout
We are only a little over 2 months from the summer recess and the US Sup Ct has issued only 23 opinions. We are either about to see a lot of law made in a short time or one of the lowest outputs from the high court in recent history.
Given the last few years, maybe the less the better.
JAS
July 03, 2007, 16:23
Martin PetersonOne of the lowest outputs. By my count 66 signed opinions (not counting those deciding companion cases more than once) and two per curiam opinions.
Interestingly the workload was well distributed. Kennedy, Thomas, Scalia, Roberts, and Breyer 8 cases each; Souter, Ginsberg, and Alito 7 each. But, Stevens only 5. Also of note, the lower court was affirmed in 19 cases (but not in any of the opinions authored by Kennedy).
So, even working my hardest, I write one opinion a month and take the other four months off. Do I have this right? And I get lifetime appointment. Sweeeet.
July 03, 2007, 19:41
Martin PetersonBut your clerks have to review almost 10,000 petitions and you have to read all those reports.
July 06, 2007, 10:04
CoryCThe folks on ScotusBlog make an interesting point -- AMK was in the majority in every 5-4 or 5-3 case decided this term. They also note that his term bested even the great SOC in her most successful term as the "swing vote."
http://www.scotusblog.com/movabletype/archives/2007/06/justice_kennedy_1.htmlThey also have what is any SC wonk's, uh, dream in the Super Stat Pack, at
http://www.scotusblog.com/movabletype/archives/2007/06/ot06_the_statis.html.
And, yes, I have forgotten how to tag html links.
Cory