[Dianna]

The big deal is that the chief justice assigns the cases to various associate justices, thus trying to shape decisions by putting the right players in the right place.

Ok, but if the full set of Justices get to vote anyway, I guess I don't understand how this shapes things.

[mwl1]

Say you are the leader of nine persons. You get to choose who decides where to have dinner. Do you think that the person to whom you appoint to make this decision might either favorably or adversely affect others in the group?