For legal professionals keeping an eye on the Supreme Court’s activities, Tuesdays can often signify new developments as the Court continues its series of opinion days. March 31 marks what, by all accounts, is expected to be the fourth opinion day this month. Regular followers of the SCOTUS live blogs know that opinion days are events filled with both anticipation and a bit of speculative fun.
Close followers of these live updates are likely acquainted with recurring inquiries such as whether it is known beforehand which opinions will be released (the answer is no) or if live audio is available from the courtroom during opinion announcements (again, no).
A curious tradition has emerged surrounding the Court’s delivery of opinions to the press, involving the use of light blue cardboard boxes, akin to these, to transport copies of the soon-to-be-released opinions. The number of boxes, introduced by the Public Information Office precisely at 9:55 a.m. EDT, serves as an early indicator of the volume of opinions likely to be delivered shortly after.
The practice of gauging the weight and count of these boxes provides a snapshot of the day’s forthcoming activities. A single box generally suggests only one or two opinions, whereas two boxes indicate a more sizeable collection of opinions. This informal approach extends to an analysis of the box’s heft, offering further clues as to the opinions’ volume.
Such speculations are not foolproof, as the tariff decision on a recent opinion day was not predicted by box count alone, an assumption overturned when opinions were formally announced in the courtroom. Despite its imperfections, the pastime of tracking box logistics offers a semblance of anticipation to the otherwise unpredictable nature of Supreme Court opinion days. This seemingly trivial exercise ties into the broader tradition of framing the serious work of the Court in a manner appealing to both new observers and seasoned lawyers.
For those interested in experiencing the thrill and intricacies of these days, SCOTUSblog provides real-time coverage, with live blogging commencing from 9:30 a.m. EDT. For more information on today’s activities, the original post can be accessed here on SCOTUSblog.