Farewell, 2006 Term
Published by Kedar June 28th, 2007 in Court Procedure, Supreme Court, Constitutional LawThe court today wrapped up the 2006 term. You can see how all of the cases came down at the 2006 Term Case Index.
This term was marked by rulings in only 75 cases, a relatively low number in comparison to past years. here are stats from the last few years:
| Term | Rulings |
| 2006 | 75 |
| 2005 | 87 |
| 2004 | 80 |
| 2003 | 80 |
| 2002 | 84 |
| 2001 | 85 |
| 2000 | 87 |
The Court also issued an unusually high percentage of 5-4 decisions. 21 out of 75 cases (28%) this year came down 5-4 although some individuals like SCOTUSblog consider both Limtiaco and Morse to be 5-4 decisions even though they were decided by larger majorities, 9-0 and 6-3 respectively. Here is the final statistical breakdown of the term.
Total Number of rulings offered by the court: 75
Total Number of 9-0 rulings (not including per curiam decisions): 25
Number of Per Curiam Opinions: 8
Total Number of 8-1 or 7-1 decisions: 8
Number of lone dissents penned by Justice Thomas: 3
Number of lone dissents penned by Justice Stevens: 3
Total Number of 5-4 decisions: 21
Total Number of 5-4 decisions in which Justice Kennedy voted in the majority: 21
Total Number of 5-4 decisions ruled along traditional partisan lines: 18
Total Number of 5-4 decisions won by the conservative block: 12
Total Number of 5-4 decisions won by the liberal block: 6
Well, we have the laziest congress, why not have the laziest supreme court while we’re at it.