Supreme Court Justices Reveal How They Maintain Respect, Civility During Deliberations

‘We do not interrupt one another and we never raise voices,’ Justice Amy Coney Barrett said.

Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court pose for their official photo at the Supreme Court in Washington on Oct. 7, 2022. (Front L–R) Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Samuel Alito and Justice Elena Kagan. (Back L–R) Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Ketanji Brown Jackson. Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images

U.S. Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Amy Coney Barrett revealed on Tuesday the norms that justices follow to accommodate differing viewpoints and ensure they work without conflict.

“We don’t speak in a hot way in our conferences,” Justice Barrett said during a forum at George Washington University, referring to meetings between justices where they discuss cases. “We do not raise voices, no matter how, you know, how hot-buttoned the case. We always speak with respect. There’s a norm for how we speak.