The Funniest Justice, week 7: A funny direction
During oral arguments yesterday in a case to determine if lawyers violated federal privacy laws by using driving records to look for potential class action clients, Justice Stephen G. Breyer tried to draw a line between proper and improper conduct.
“What I’m trying to get at is the statement that I could write in an opinion that will draw the boundary of this provision [that will] help your client because they will cover this case, but will also be south of that,” Breyer said.
Clearly such wording left Justice Antonin G. Scalia lost.
“What is south? I don’t have a compass here.” Scalia said, drawing laughs.
That was one of four humorous quips Scalia made this week, making him the week’s funniest justices and helping him to pad his lead so far on this term’s ongoing tally:
Justice Antonin G. Scalia: 16
Justice Stephen G. Breyer: 10
Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr.:6
Justice Anthony M. Kennedy: 3
Justice Sonia M. Sotomayor: 3
Justice Elena Kagan: 1
Justice Clarence Thomas: 0
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg: 0
Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr.: 0
