Order in the court

Supreme Court: Chief Justice Roberts signals a desire for narrow rulings with large majorities, but a slew of new cases may put such collegiality to the test | Lynn Vincent

While the past several weeks haven't yielded many Supreme Court decisions on hot-button social issues, two developments within one week's time may signal the gelling of new personalities—and judicial philosophies—on the nation's highest court.

On June 5, the justices agreed to take up two cases that could end the use of racial preferences in public schools. And on May 30, the court issued its first ideologically aligned 5-4 decision since Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito joined the court.

Both actions may turn as much on the retirement of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor as on the addition of new players to the bench. At issue in Garcetti v. Ceballos, decided on May 30, was whether a public employee's job-related speech is protected by the First Amendment—in particular if that employee is "whistle-blowing."