Scalia Leads in Tally of ‘Funniest Justice’

U.S. Supreme Court

Scalia Leads in Tally of ‘Funniest Justice’

Posted Nov 8, 2007, 02:49 pm CST
By Martha Neil

A law blog that focuses on the U.S. Supreme Court has started keeping track of how many times the individual justices make jokes from the bench.

So far, Justice Antonin Scalia maintains a commanding lead as "the funniest justice," with 17 funnies, reports Lawyers USA blogger Kimberly Atkins at D.C. Dicta. However, "the race for number two is still anyone's game," as Chief Justice John G. Roberts, at eight, maintains only a slight advantage over Justices John Paul Stevens and David Souter, who are tied at six, and Justice Stephen Breyer, who has a bit of catching up to do at five.

Although Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Clarence Thomas come in last, at zero jokes each, Thomas is funnier than that tally might suggest, Atkins notes. Thomas ordinarily says little, but "whispers to Justice Breyer, whom he cracks up on a regular basis," it explains.

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