Hello. My name is robert barnes. I cover the Supreme Court for the washington post. Thanks for coming on this crisp, fall day to hear about the Supreme Court. Id like to thank the federalist society, particularly the Facility Division and practice groups for putting together what we think will be an interesting panel on what looks to be a very interesting term at the Supreme Court. After the trauma of last years confirmation hearings, theres been a thought from those who watched the court that it went out of its way not to look partisan last term, to look for ways to bust up the ideological divide on the court in some cases and to slow walk some controversies to keep them off that years docket. Its been welldocumented that each of the conservative justices at least once joined the four liberals to make up a majority in a case. And it went the other way, too. Each of the liberals at least once abandoned his or her usual voting partners and joined the conservatives in a case. Harmony cou