Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/60233
8A Daily News – Friday, March 30, 2012 Justices meet Friday to vote on health care case WASHINGTON (AP) — While the rest of us have to wait until June, the justices of the Supreme Court will know the likely outcome of the historic health care case by the time they go home this week- end. After months of anticipation, thousands of pages of briefs and more than six hours of arguments, the justices will vote on the fate of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul in under an hour Friday morning. They will meet in a wood-paneled confer- ence room on the court's main floor. No one else will be present. In the weeks after this meeting, individual votes can change. Even who wins can change, as the justices read each other's draft opinions and dissents. But Friday's vote, which each justice prob- ably will record and many will keep for pos- terity, will be followed soon after by the assign- ment of a single justice to write a majority opin- ion, or in a case this complex, perhaps two or more justices to tackle different issues. That's where the hard work begins, with the clock ticking toward the end of the court's work in early summer. The late William Rehnquist, who was chief justice for nearly 19 years, has written that the court's confer- ence ''is not a bull ses- sion in which off-the- cuff reactions are trad- ed.'' Instead, he said, votes are cast, one by one in order of seniori- ty. The Friday confer- ence also is not a debate, says Brian Fitz- patrick, a Vanderbilt University law professor who worked for Justice Antonin Scalia 10 years ago. There will be plen- ty of time for the back- and-forth in dueling opinions that could fol- low. ''There's not a whole lot of give and take at the conference. They say, 'This is how I'm going to vote' and give a few sentences,'' patrick said. always know in advance what the others are thinking when they enter the conference room adjacent to Chief Justice John Roberts' office. By custom, they shake hands. Then Roberts will take his seat at the head of a rec- tangular table. Scalia, the longest serving among them, will be at the other end. The other seven justices also sit according to seniority, the four most junior on one side across from the other three. ''They generally find out how the votes line up at the conference,'' said Orin Kerr, a George Washington University law professor who worked for Justice Anthony Kennedy nine years ago. The uncertainty may be especially pro- nounced in this case, where the views of Roberts and Kennedy are likely to decide the outcome, Kerr said in an interview Thursday. ''I don't think anyone knows. I'm not sure Jus- tice Kennedy knows.'' No one's vote counts more than the others', but because they speak in order of seniority, it will become clear fairly quickly what will become of the health care overhaul. That's because Roberts speaks first, fol- lowed by Scalia, then Kennedy. If the three men hold a common view, the Obama health care overhaul probably is history. If they don't, it probably survives. If Roberts is in the majority, he will assign the main opinion, and in a case of this impor- tance, he may well write it himself, several for- mer law clerks said. If Roberts is a dissenter, the senior justice in the majority assigns the opinion. The court won't issue its ruling in a case until drafts of majority opin- ions and any dissents have circulated among the justices, changes have been suggested and either accepted or rejected. ''These justices Fitz- It will be the first time the justices gather as a group to discuss the case. Even they do not aren't locked in. Minds have changed during the drafting process and minds have changed after opinions have been circulated,'' said Rick Garnett, associate dean and professor of law at Notre Dame Law School who worked for Rehn- quist 15 years ago. In one celebrated case decided in 1992, Rehnquist initially assigned Kennedy to write a majority opinion for five justices allow- ing prayers at public school graduations. In the end, Kennedy ended up writing the opinion for a different five-jus- tice majority striking down the graduation prayers. According to several accounts, Kennedy sim- ply changed his mind during the writing process. No one will know precisely when deci- sions on particular cases will be coming, until perhaps Roberts ends a court session in late June by announcing the next meeting will be the last until October. Then it's a safe bet that whatever hasn't been decided will be on the last day. And deci- sions in the biggest cases very often aren't announced until that last day of the term. Supreme Court opin- ions rarely find their way to the public before they are read in the mar- ble courtroom, although the court inadvertently posted opinions and orders on its website about a half hour too soon in December. The last apparent security breach occurred more than 30 years ago when Tim O'Brien, then a reporter for ABC News, informed viewers that the court planned to issue a particular opin- ion the following day. Chief Justice Warren Burger accused an employee in the printing shop of tipping O'Brien and had the employee transferred to a different job. Sometimes, though, the justices themselves manage to let people know something big is coming. On May 17, 1954, the attorney general, secre- tary of state and Nina Warren, wife of the chief justice, were in the courtroom when Earl Warren read the his- toric, unanimous opin- ion in Brown v. Board of Education outlawing school segregation. US economy grew 3 percent in final quarter of 2011 WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy grew at an annual rate of 3 percent in the final three months of 2011, the best pace in a year and a half. But that growth has likely slowed in the current quar- ter. Businesses have been restocking their shelves more slowly and shipping fewer long-lasting manu- factured goods. In addi- tion, Europe's debt crisis and weaker growth in Asia have slowed demand for U.S. exports. Stronger hiring in the first two months of the year probably hasn't offset those weaknesses. That's because Americans' pay has barely kept pace with inflation even as gas prices The North State's premier supplier of stoves STOVE JUNCTION The Over 25 years of experience Accessories with purchase of any stove 20% OFF Stove Good through March 31, 2012 Tues-Sat 9am-5pm • Closed Sun & Mon 22825 Antelope Blvd., Red Bluff 530-528-2221 • Fax 530-528-2229 www.thestovejunction.com Democrats: "Salute to American Workers" Dinner and Dessert, Opportunity Drawings, and Auction Support Your Party Annual Fundraiser Red Bluff Community Center, 1500 S. Jackson Street Saturday, March 31, 2012 Doors open 5:15pm Keynote Speech at 6:00pm $ 25.00 person John Burton, keynote Speaker Chairman, California Democratic Party Meet elected officials and those running for office RSVP: Sue Gallagher @ 530-384-2945 or John Elshere @ 530-529-1238 or E-mail; tehamacountydemocrats@gmail.com Paid Political Advertisement have spiked. So consumer spending, which drives about 70 percent of eco- nomic activity, probably hasn't increased much from the end of last year. Most economists expect growth to pick up later this year as further hiring lifts the economy. The Commerce Depart- ment reported no change Thursday in its previous growth estimate for the October-December quar- ter. The 3 percent annual rate was the strongest since the spring of 2010. Slower growth in exports than previously estimated was offset by stronger business investment. Still, economists expect growth has probably slowed to 2 percent or less in the current January- March quarter. James W. Tysinger, Jr. M.D. Eye Physician & Surgeon Fellow American Academy of Ophthalmology We accept Medical, Medicare & most Insurances Office Hours: Tues-Wed-Thurs 8am-4:30pm Mon & Fri 1pm-4:30pm For Emergencies, After Hours, Week-ends, Call 530-567-5001 345 Hickory St. Red Bluff Tel: (530) 529-4733 Fax: (530) 529-1114 After Tax Time is Over April 17th We will still be here • Extension • Prior Year Taxes • Bookkeeping • Payroll • Financial Services P. Ralph Campbell, EA Enrolled Agent Daniele Jackson 530-529-9540 855 Walnut St. #2, Red Bluff CA Insurance Lic. 0C73069