Bloodless Coup

Maybe It Isn't That Bad?

Via the NY Times, a story about how the Roberts Supreme Court is different from the Renquist Court.

Short answer: more debate, less predictability:

In another distinction between the Roberts and Rehnquist styles, Chief Justice Roberts is reliably said to be presiding over the justices' private after-argument conferences with a lighter hand, not watching the clock as closely and permitting more conversation.

That might account for the changed tone of the arguments, Ms. Brinkmann speculated. "If you know you'll be able to make your point in conference, you don't have to make it on the bench," she said.

I'd hate to say it, but this might actually be an improvement (attributably to a Bush appointee, no less).