Comments on: The First Voting Statistics

By: Vocal Observer

Vocal Observer — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 14:04:20 +0000

While the initial stats are interesting, the pool for Roberts and Alito are relatively small. Considering that there were many unanimous decisions this term, two key decisions forthcoming and Roberts having more say in the caseload next term, next year the figures could be quite different.

By: mike liveright

mike liveright — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 08:42:31 +0000

Thanks…

1) I’d like a link back to a discussion of the meanings of the figures. I assume that there is some discussion of these in an earlier posting.

2) I’d also like to have a tab delimited file of all the cases and how the justices voted. Then one can go in, rate the cases as, say Pro National Government or Pro State, etc. and determine whether the decisions or a specific judge voted consistantly.

Thanks…

By: federalist

federalist — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 01:40:03 +0000

One of the unknowables is how the change of personnel affects cert. votes. Theoretically, a more conservative court will vote less often to grant cert. to questionable “conservative” decisions and be more likely to take a harder look at more questionable “liberal” decisions.

Also, it will be interesting to see if Roberts desire to increase the cert. load pans out. That may result in more “error correction” cases, which would tend to increase unanimity.