Adding two new members to the Supreme Court has changed its dynamics, with discussions about cases more free-flowing under new Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Stephen Breyer said Monday.
Long the junior member of the Court under the late Chief Justice William Rehnquist, Breyer said operations are "a little more relaxed" under Roberts, who tends to let justices discuss issues at more length during closed-door meetings.
The Court's justices have "very nice" interpersonal relationships with the addition of Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito, Breyer said, and members may even be trying harder than normal to get along, as evidenced by a flurry of unanimous decisions.
Breyer said he doesn't know if the newly formed Supreme Court under Roberts is intentionally trying to agree, perhaps to keep its decisions narrow in focus.
"Whether unconsciously or not people are trying to get more agreement, it's possible," said Breyer, addressing law students at the University of Alabama.
On Monday, the Court unanimously decided that the government can make colleges open their campuses to military recruiters despite objections to the Pentagon's policy on gays.
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