Chief Justice: Court Asks Too Many Questions

Chief Justice John Roberts says he and his colleagues have become too aggressive in questioning lawyers who argue before the Supreme Court. Roberts says the justices "overdo it a bit" in posing questions to lawyers without giving the attorneys the chance to respond. The chief justice says one reason is that the justices have not discussed the case among themselves before the argument. Instead, they use the typically hour-long session to debate each other through the lawyers. Roberts, who spoke today at a conference of judges and lawyers in West Virginia, suggested lawyers not even try to respond to rapid-fire questions. Clarence Thomas, who is definitely not guilty of the charge, has made a similar point. (More John Roberts stories.)