[Rehnquist's death] is unlikely to make a lot of difference in the court, ... But over the long term, by replacing Rehnquist with another conservative, you lock in the court for 20 years.

It sounds great from an institutional standpoint. Maybe the Court could do a better job of persuasion. But it won't come overnight. If Roberts leads by example and writes clearly and talks to his colleagues, it may happen.

There is a very steep learning curve, even for someone as versed in constitutional law as Roberts is.

So much of where the justices go in terms of terrorism, law enforcement, even abortion, a range of issues will depend on the court's composition in coming years.

This court likes taking on hot button issues, with abortion as an exception,

The conference itself is not a place of debate, ... They don't engage across the conference table.