This was a time of great intellectual excitement for me. Both college and law school opened up new worlds of ideas.

I think that the legitimacy of the court would be undermined in any case if the court made a decision based on its perception of public opinion.

I think that Congress's ability to reason is fully equal to that of the judiciary.

You want us to step in and render a decision based on an assessment of the effects of this institution which is newer than cellphones or the Internet?

Good judges are always open to the possibility of changing their minds based on the next brief that they read, or the next argument that's made by an attorney who's appearing before them, or a comment that is made by a colleague during the conference on the case when the judges privately discuss the case.

Good judges develop certain habits of mind. One of those habits of mind is the habit of delaying reaching conclusions until everything has been considered.

A judge can't have any preferred outcome in any particular case. The judge's only obligation - and it's a solemn obligation - is to the rule of law.