Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts attends inauguration ceremonies in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Chip Somodevilla/Pool via REUTERS
The Supreme Court became engulfed in "chaos" this week, according to The Hill, with "tensions" exploding amid Chief Justice John Roberts' struggle to rein in "uninhibited questioning."
According to a Wednesday report from The Hill, the Court's liberal justices drew the frustration of Roberts this week for their tendency to disregard the system in place that dictates the order in which members are permitted to ask questions. This is also supposedly not a new issue, though the outlet noted that the chief justice has taken a more aggressive approach in recent days.
"Uninhibited questioning by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson at Supreme Court arguments this week showcased tensions with their colleagues that were put on display," The Hill's report explained. "The most senior and junior members of the high court’s liberal flank drew visible frustration from Chief Justice John Roberts and others as they dominated discussions. It wasn’t the first time."
The report continued: "Supreme Court arguments have never been short on interruptions, and each justice brings their own flair to the bench. But as chief, Roberts is now straining to steer and balance the sessions. This week, he was more assertive."
During an argument on Monday regarding mail-in voting, liberal Justice Sotomayor "jumped in" when conservative Justice Clarence Thomas finished his questions, despite the fact that conservative Justice Samuel Alito was supposed to be the next one to speak.“
Have we had any —” Sotomayor started, according to The Hill.
“Justice — Justice,” Roberts responded, raising his voice in the process.
“I’m sorry,” Sotomayor said.
“— Alito,” Roberts finished.
During a hearing on Tuesday related to asylum seekers at the southern border, Justices Sotomayor and Jackson were noted for the amount that they spoke, taking up 46 percent of the total words spoken by justices that day. Conservative lawyer Ed Whelan laid out one particular stretch in which Sotomayor continually interrupted a lawyer who was attempting to answer questions.
"Sotomayor asks a 3-minute question, cuts off response after 10 words, talks for another 30 seconds, cuts off response after 5 words, and again and again," Whelan wrote in a post to X.
Roberts' efforts to structure the questions from justices and rein in chaos originated during the COVID-19 pandemic, when hearings were virtual and livestreamed, according to The Hill. To ensure things ran smoothly, justices were given an allotted amount of time to ask questions uninterrupted, in the order of their seniority.
"That practice stuck," The Hill explained. "While Roberts has returned to allowing a portion of each argument to include scattered questioning, he ends each lawyer’s probing with a chance for each justice to ask questions unabated. It’s usually the first portion that prompts butting heads."