Introduction: the Rehnquist court / Christopher E. Smith and Michael A. McCall -- William Brennan and Thurgood Marshall : the mediator & the absolutist / Lee Ruffin Wilson and Ashlyn Kuersten -- Byron White : the overlooked, moderate swing voter / Mark S. Hurwitz -- Harry A. Blackmun : counterweight to a conservative court / Ashlyn Kuersten and Lee Ruffin Wilson -- William H. Rehnquist : leadership & influence from the conservative wing / Michael A. McCall -- John Paul Stevens : a liberal leader & his roles on the court / Christopher E. Smith -- Sandra Day O'Connor : influence from the middle of the court / Madhavi M. McCall -- Antonin Scalia : outspoken & influential originalist / Christopher E. Smith and Madhavi M. McCall -- Anthony Kennedy : conservatism & independence / John D. Burrow -- David H. Souter : unexpected independent / Scott P. Johnson -- Clarence Thomas : consistent, conservative, & contrarian / Joyce A. Baugh -- Ruth Bader Ginsburg : careful defender of individual rights / Christina DeJong -- Stephen G. Breyer : judicial modesty & pragmatic solutions / Charles F. Jacobs