AP Courtside: Supreme Court wraps up its 1st phone arguments

WASHINGTON (AP) — The coronavirus pandemic has forced the tradition-bound Supreme Court into some big changes. Starting Monday, the justices are hearing arguments by telephone for the first time.

The court will hear a total of 10 cases over six days, including President Donald Trump’s bid to keep certain financial records private. You can listen here.

Here are some observations, trivia and analysis from our Supreme Court reporters (all times local):

11:25 a.m.

“The case is submitted.” Chief Justice John Roberts has with those words wrapped up the first Supreme Court argument conducted by telephone and where audio was available live to the public.

Arguments lasted about an hour and 15 minutes on Monday. Argument had been scheduled to last an hour, as arguments in the courtroom are. Roberts kept the arguments moving by telling the two attorneys arguing “thank you, counsel” or “briefly” when he wanted to move on to questions from the next justice.

There were no real technical difficulties, though Justice Stephen Breyer’s line was briefly difficult to hear.

___

10:45 a.m.

Chief Justice John Roberts is keeping the first telephone Supreme Court arguments moving with phrases like: “Thank you, counsel.”

Arguments are scheduled to last only an hour as is typical at the Supreme Court. The justices are asking questions in order of seniority. Roberts is cutting in to questioning when it’s time to move from one justice to the next, stopping government attorney Erica Ross with a thank you before calling on the next justice to speak.

Some of the justices on Monday had niceties for Ross that aren’t present in a usual argument. Justice Stephen Breyer started a question and then paused. He said: “Good morning, anyway.” Justice Elena Kagan and Justice...