It’s June, the Month of Long Supreme Court Opinions
The U.S. Supreme Court has 23 more opinions to issue before the end of the term, and they’re likely to be long ones.
According to USA Today, the Supreme Court “has entered the season of the long opinion.” When the court takes longer to resolve an issue, the story says, it’s likely to be a tough and longer opinion.
The story gives several reasons why. More justices may be filing concurrences and dissents. Or the justice writing the opinion for the court might have to include additional points to keep a majority. Or the justices may be tired and have less time for editing.
One decision at the end of last term was more than 200 pages in length and consisted of five separate opinions. The splintering played out in four decisions issued on Thursday, when Justice Antonin Scalia either dissented or concurred, taking shots at Congress in two opinions criticizing fuzzy legislative drafting.
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Another June Crunch for the Supreme Court, With 27 Decisions Pending”
