U.S. Supreme Court
Women Justices Are Most Often First to Pose Questions
The Supreme Court’s two female justices are most often the first to ask questions during oral arguments.
Research (PDF) by O’Melveny & Myers found that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg asked the first question 20 times during oral arguments last term, and Justice Sonia Sotomayor was first 16 times, the National Law Journal reports.
The most frequent questioner, however, was Justice Antonin Scalia, followed by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. The justice whose questions were longest was Justice Stephen G. Breyer, reflecting his penchant for lengthy hypotheticals.
Justice Clarence Thomas did not ask any questions, at any time during arguments, last term.