Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg says that the liberal justices on the court try to speak with one voice when writing opinions as often as possible.
"The stimulus actually began many many years before ... when the court announced its decision in Bush v. Gore,"
Ginsburg told NPR.
The liberal justices were in the minority in the 5-4 decision, which resolved the issue surrounding the recount in Florida over the 2000 presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore, putting Bush in the White House.
However, each of the four dissenting justices wrote their own opinions because they "were unable to get together and write one opinion."
The result ended up as a confusing mess for the media, as some media outlets mistakenly reported that the decision was actually 7-2.
After that experience, Ginsburg told NPR, "we agreed" that "when we are in that situation again, let's be in one opinion."
She explained that this is also important so that the lower courts as well as the public understand what was decided.
"If you want to make sure you're read, you do it together, and you do it short," Ginsburg told NPR. Or the justices risk being either misunderstood or not read at all.
While the conservative members on the court have not followed this protocol, Ginsburg expects that to change.
"Next term I think you'll see some of my colleagues will be more disciplined," she added.
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