Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas are, with Rehnquist's passing, the only two reliably conservative justices. Kennedy and O'Connor often joined with those three to win cases 5-4, but increasingly these two have begun wandering into the liberals' clutches. John Stevens and Ruth Bader Ginsburg are the two most liberal, followed by David Souter and Steven Breyer. Chief Justice Roberts has not yet established a voting record.
If I were to rank them subjectively from most conservative to most liberal:
Scalia & Thomas
Kennedy & O'Connor
Breyer
Souter
Stevens & Ginsburg
Interestingly, I think I've noted the emergence recently of unusual new voting patterns. We're seeing (I think) new coalitions springing up more readily, case-by-case. But then earlier this week in a case there were the four liberals in the minority against the other five (with Roberts in the majority), just like old times.
"Scalia & Thomas
Kennedy & O'Connor
Breyer
Souter
Stevens & Ginsburg"
Hopefully this will soon change to:
Scalia & Thomas & Roberts & Alito
Kennedy
Breyer
Souter
Stevens & Ginsburg
Also great that the next 2 likely spots to be filled are the bottom 2 on the list (Stevens and Ginsberg)
What could it look like then?
Scalia & Thomas & Roberts & Alito & GWB appt#3 & GWB appt#4
Kennedy
Breyer
Souter
OH MY :D
This is how the list will look shortly:
If I were to rank them subjectively from most conservative to most liberal:
Scalia & Thomas
Roberts & Alito
Kennedy
Breyer
Souter
Stevens & Ginsburg
Plus, Roberts, as new Chief Justice, will have an active hand on how the discussions of cases go, and what priority will be given to what case on the docket. Also, I'll bet, now that yet another Catholic is coming on board, that Kennedy might be more inclined to be influenced by the arguments of his fellow Catholics Thomas, Alito, and Roberts.
Ginzburg is in poor health, and Stevens is now the most ancient on the Court. Bush might have one more shot at an appointment before he leaves the Presidency. If so, and he appoints another strict constructionist, this will become Bush's greatest legacy for which he should be proud, as there will be lasting affects to come from this legacy and with a conservative court we can knock the U.S. back into shape.