(Photo: AP/J. Scott Applewhite)
"...Justices Gorsuch and Sotomayor also have become a playful duo. During one oral argument, she reached over to pinch him, attempting to demonstrate a particular level of force in a case over when a robbery turns into a violent felony.
SCOTUSBlog reported that Justice Gorsuch seemed bemused and mildly alarmed, and the courtroom audience laughed.
'It’s always nice to see when justices on different sides can like each other,' said Curt Levey, president of the Committee for Justice and a prominent court watcher.
Mr. Levey said for GOP-appointed justices, they can range from moderate former Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, whom Justice Kavanaugh replaced, to Justice Clarence Thomas, the quiet conservative. Mr. Levey said Justice Gorsuch is planting himself on the Thomas side — but more vocal.
'This term I was looking for more and I think I got it. If Thomas spoke, we would probably get equally bold and out-of-the-box thinking,' Mr. Levey said.
For his part, Justice Thomas broke his famous silence from the bench, asking his first question since 2016, and just his second since 2006..."