I like to think that the court will continue to be held in high regard by the public. I think it should be.

The courts of this country should not be the places where resolution of disputes begins. They should be the places where the disputes end after alternative methods of resolving disputes have been considered and tried.

I suspect that over time we will rely increasingly, or take notice at least increasingly, on international and foreign courts in examining domestic issues. [Doing so] may not only enrich our own country's decisions, I think it may create that all important good impression.

The freedom to criticize judges and other public officials is necessary to a vibrant democracy.

The really expert riders of horses let the horse know immediately who is in control, but then they guide the horse with loose reins and very seldom use the spurs. So it was with our chief [William Rehnquist]. He guided us with loose reins and used the spurs only rarely to get us up to speed with our work.

I think the important thing about my appointment is not that I will decide cases as a woman, but that I am a woman who will get to decide cases.

If statistics are any indication, the system may well be allowing some innocent defendants to be executed.