Supreme Court Justice Profiles

Comprehensive analysis of each justice's judicial philosophy, voting patterns, and strategic considerations for constitutional cases.

5-6

Likely Conservative Votes

2-3

Swing/Moderate Votes

3

Liberal Justices

Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr.

2006 (Bush) • Originalist/Textualist

95%

Alignment Score

Key Positions

Religious Liberty ChampionFederalism AdvocateIndividual Rights

Recent Key Votes

Kennedy v. Bremerton (2022)Majority
Dobbs v. Jackson (2022)Majority
Trinity Lutheran (2017)Majority

Strategic Approach

Emphasize historical religious persecution and constitutional text

Key Concerns

None - natural ally on religious liberty issues

Persuasion Factors

Original meaningHistorical practiceReligious freedom

Risk Assessment

Minimal - highly predictable vote

Justice Neil M. Gorsuch

2017 (Trump) • Textualist/Originalist

93%

Alignment Score

Key Positions

Smith CriticIndividual LibertySeparation of Powers

Recent Key Votes

Fulton v. Philadelphia (2021)Concurrence
Bostock v. Clayton County (2020)Majority
Carpenter v. United States (2018)Majority

Strategic Approach

Focus on textual meaning and individual liberty principles

Key Concerns

None - has explicitly criticized Smith decision

Persuasion Factors

Plain textIndividual rightsGovernment overreach

Risk Assessment

Minimal - strong religious liberty record

Justice Clarence Thomas

1991 (Bush Sr.) • Originalist

90%

Alignment Score

Key Positions

Original MeaningIndividual RightsLimited Government

Recent Key Votes

Dobbs v. Jackson (2022)Concurrence
New York Rifle (2022)Majority
Espinoza v. Montana (2020)Majority

Strategic Approach

Historical analysis of Founding Era religious liberty

Key Concerns

None - consistent originalist approach

Persuasion Factors

Founding era historyOriginal understandingIndividual liberty

Risk Assessment

Low - reliable conservative vote

Justice Amy Coney Barrett

2020 (Trump) • Originalist/Textualist

75%

Alignment Score

Key Positions

Judicial RestraintReligious LibertyInstitutional Concerns

Recent Key Votes

Students for Fair Admissions (2023)Majority
Moore v. Harper (2023)Majority
Fulton v. Philadelphia (2021)Majority

Strategic Approach

Emphasize narrow application to religious communities

Key Concerns

May prefer incremental change over broad precedent reversal

Persuasion Factors

Judicial minimalismReligious libertyNarrow holdings

Risk Assessment

Medium - institutional concerns may limit scope

Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh

2018 (Trump) • Conservative Pragmatist

70%

Alignment Score

Key Positions

Precedent RespectInstitutional StabilityModerate Approach

Recent Key Votes

Dobbs v. Jackson (2022)Majority
West Virginia v. EPA (2022)Majority
American Legion (2019)Majority

Strategic Approach

Focus on limited impact to insular communities

Key Concerns

Worried about broader implications for civil rights

Persuasion Factors

Narrow scopePrecedent stabilityInstitutional concerns

Risk Assessment

Medium - may prefer limited ruling

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr.

2005 (Bush) • Institutional Conservative

65%

Alignment Score

Key Positions

Judicial MinimalismInstitutional LegitimacyIncremental Change

Recent Key Votes

Moore v. Harper (2023)Majority
Students for Fair Admissions (2023)Majority
Department of Homeland Security v. Regents (2020)Majority

Strategic Approach

Emphasize judicial minimalism and narrow ruling

Key Concerns

Institutional impact of overturning major precedent

Persuasion Factors

Narrow holdingsInstitutional stabilityPrecedent respect

Risk Assessment

High - may prioritize institutional concerns

Justice Elena Kagan

2010 (Obama) • Legal Pragmatist

45%

Alignment Score

Key Positions

Government AuthorityMinority RightsPractical Outcomes

Recent Key Votes

Moore v. Harper (2023)Concurrence
Biden v. Nebraska (2023)Dissent
Masterpiece Cakeshop (2018)Concurrence

Strategic Approach

Frame as minority rights and bodily autonomy issue

Key Concerns

Generally supports government authority over religious exemptions

Persuasion Factors

Minority protectionBodily autonomyPractical effects

Risk Assessment

High - skeptical of broad religious exemptions

Justice Sonia Sotomayor

2009 (Obama) • Liberal Pragmatist

40%

Alignment Score

Key Positions

Government AuthorityPublic HealthCivil Rights

Recent Key Votes

Students for Fair Admissions (2023)Dissent
Dobbs v. Jackson (2022)Dissent
Trinity Lutheran (2017)Dissent

Strategic Approach

Emphasize protection of vulnerable minority communities

Key Concerns

Public health priorities over religious exemptions

Persuasion Factors

Minority protectionPublic healthGovernment authority

Risk Assessment

High - strong public health advocate

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson

2022 (Biden) • Progressive Pragmatist

35%

Alignment Score

Key Positions

Civil RightsGovernment AuthorityPublic Health

Recent Key Votes

Students for Fair Admissions (2023)Dissent
Moore v. Harper (2023)Concurrence
Biden v. Nebraska (2023)Dissent

Strategic Approach

Focus on historical persecution of religious minorities

Key Concerns

Strong public health advocate, skeptical of exemptions

Persuasion Factors

Historical persecutionMinority rightsEqual protection

Risk Assessment

Very High - likely to prioritize public health