Justice Breyer: Justices disagree, but don't hold grudges

By Kimberly Atkins The Daily Record Newswire Justice Stephen Breyer's media blitz in promotion of his new book took him to CNN's ''Larry King Live'' recently, were he talked about everything from his relationship with the other justices to his dismay at the fact that few Americans can name three Supreme Court justices, yet most can name all Three Stooges. King asked Breyer, whose views often differ sharply from those of benchmates like Justice Antonin Scalia - with whom Breyer often spars during oral arguments - if jurists ever carry grudges outside the courthouse. ''No. Because you make an effort,'' said Breyer, who is promoting his book ''Making Our Democracy Work: A Judge's View.'' Breyer said the justices don't take their disagreements personally because they ''understand that the job of the Court is to make decisions'' and that ''harmful personal relationships will hurt the Court.'' On the subject of the president's State of the Union Address, although several of his colleagues - including Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., Scalia and Justice Clarence Thomas - have expressed unease about being present in such a politicized atmosphere, Breyer said he thinks it's important for him to attend. ''I think it is important for people to see - that is [all three branches of] the government,'' Breyer said. ''I will go.'' He demurred when asked by King whether it was appropriate for Justice Samuel Alito to visibly show his disagreement with the President Obama's remarks about the Court's ruling in a case dealing with campaign finance law earlier this year. ''What people say or don't say when they are in that room or out of that room is their affair,'' Breyer said. King asked Breyer how he felt about having three women on the nation's highest court. ''How do I feel? Fine,'' Breyer said.''Does it change things? Yes. How? Probably for the better.'' When asked what the most surprising thing about being a Supreme Court justice was, Breyer responded: ''It's more work than I thought!'' Published: Mon, Sep 20, 2010

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