Quote-Worthy Kagan and Hard-Charging Sotomayor Are ‘Stronger Voice’ in Oral Arguments
The Supreme Court’s two newest justices are more forceful in oral arguments than their predecessors, making for livelier discussions and a changed dynamic.
The two justices “have brought a stronger voice on the left,” USA Today reports.
The story describes Sotomayor’s style as “hard-charging,” with a focus on the facts of a case. Sometimes she even interrupts fellow justices, forcing Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. to moderate. During her first term last year, Sotomayor asked an average of 16 questions per oral argument, compared to an average of about 14 questions per oral argument for the justices over the last decade, according to University of Minnesota political science professor Timothy Johnson.
Kagan advances broad legal arguments with her questions, the story says, and “has revealed herself as a deft player who can work her way easily into question-and-answer sessions and cut to the heart of an issue.” She also displays an ability to delivery “pithy, memorable quotes.”
Johnson tells USA Today that the two justices “are much more direct” than their predecessors. “I think they are pinpointing the issues more,” he said.
