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Supreme Court Expands Margins

5-4 votes that characterized last term grow scarce

By Jonas Oransky, Newser Staff

Posted May 23, 2008 2:35 PM CDT

(Newser) – The Supreme Court divisions expected after Samuel Alito replaced Sandra Day O’Connor materialized last term but have since disappeared in a tide of consensus. Only one of 35 cases this term has been decided 5 to 4. Linda Greenhouse of the New York Times looks at a once-predictable panel that seems to be emphasizing concessions over confrontations.

Conservatives held sway in cases that addressed lethal injection, voter ID, and child pornography, but liberals have crafted enough compromises to avoid a flood of one-vote margins. One expert points to the calendar and speculates that the justices "probably don’t want to provoke controversy, or become an issue, during the election—especially an election with a highly uncertain outcome.”

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, left, gives the thumbs up sign to the remarks of his colleague Justice John Paul Stevens. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

In this June 15, 2006 file photo, Associate Justice John Paul Stevens smiles as he chats with Chief Justice John G. Roberts. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., reacts as he listens to a speaker. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

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Supreme Court Expands Margins

5-4 votes that characterized last term grow scarce

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Antonin Scalia • John Roberts • lethal injection • voter ID laws • child pornography • US Supreme Court • consensus

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Supreme Court Expands Margins

5-4 votes that characterized last term grow scarce

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Antonin Scalia • John Roberts • lethal injection • voter ID laws • child pornography • US Supreme Court • consensus

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Supreme Court Bans Warrantless GPS Tracking

Obama administration had argued that tracking cars didn't constitute a search

Judge Roberts: All Justices Can Rule on Obamacare

Chief justice says Supreme Court peers can't withdraw

Crooks' Best Friend on High Court Is ... Antonin Scalia?

Justice has overturned convictions on the right to challenge witnesses

Hey, Lefties: This Supreme Court Should Scare You

Obama too timid on federal nominees, with big issues coming

In Wal-Mart Case, High Court Ignores Women, Evidence

Dahlia Lithwick on the injustice of Wal-Mart v. Dukes

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Newser By Users

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