SCOTUS by the Numbers: Liberals Score in More Close Cases

The Supreme Court’s 67 opinions are in: Call it the crossover term.

Liberal justices prevailed more often in closely divided cases than did conservatives. The 10-7 count was partly due to every Republican appointee breaking ranks at least once in 5-4 or 5-3 cases.

These results come despite anticipation that the fortified conservative majority with the addition of Brett Kavanaugh immediately would push the court sharply to the right.

Last term, liberals prevailed in just three of 19 closely divided cases.

Both conservatives and liberals prevailed in consequential cases that were closely divided.

For conservatives, this included a 5-4 ...