Clock-Ticking at the Supreme Court: Justices Push Back on Marathon Arguments

Supreme Court justices are increasingly complaining that oral arguments run too long after adopting a pandemic-era hybrid format that blends free-form questioning with seriatim rounds. The average argument length has risen to about 90 minutes, with some hearings approaching three hours. Some praise the extra time for debate and transparency, while others worry the longer format hurts accessibility and alters bench dynamics on a conservative-leaning court. Chief Justice Roberts is trying to enforce timing, Justice Thomas has no objection, and liberal voices like Sotomayor and Jackson tend to speak the most in recent terms.