Holding CourtDahlia Lithwick dishes with readers on the Supremes and the start of the new term.

Slate senior editor Dahlia Lithwick was online at Washingtonpost.com on Thursday, Oct. 4, to discuss the start of the Supreme Court term. An unedited transcript of the chat follows.

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washingtonpost.com: The Breakfast Table: A Supreme Court Discussion (Slate, June 22-29)

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Washington: I think you and Emily do a great job, like your recent piece that we've gone from knowing almost nothing about the Supremes to knowing too much in a really short time. Wondered about Anthony Kennedy, as it seems that Toobin, Greenberg or someone said he was really full of himself. Explain?

Dahlia Lithwick: Washington, first of all thank you. Emily and I really really love our jobs!

Yes Anthony Kennedy took a big big hit in both Jan's book and Jeff's. I think he's long been criticized for being sort or grandiose, especially in some of his legal writing. I have a big old soft spot for him anyhow because I think he's kind of the last real romantic on the court. Maybe I've read too much Danielle Steele in my lifetime but I really do respect Kennedy's deep reverence for the law and his faith that it can do great things in the world. Sure that sounds pompous and I suppose it can be. But if the alternative is a court that shrinks the law down to the size of a pin (by, say, closing the courthouse doors to one litigant after another based on technicalities and crabbed readings of the law) I am always going to be a fan of the guy who believes the slightly cheesy notion that law is great and important.

gag, huh?

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Arlington, Va.: Besides the lethal injection and voter ID cases, what cases in this term do you see being the most interesting or having the most potential impact?

Dahlia Lithwick: Good morning Arlington.

Certainly among the most important (if not THE most) is the case testing the rights of captives at Guantanamo Bay to have their habeas corpus petitions heard. I can't overstate the importance of a battle over the right to habeas, Congressional power, the power of the courts . . Its huge.

Also a big case testing whether the president can compel state courts to uphold judgments of international tribunals. Big sentencing guidelines case already heard this week. And we are all holding our breath to see if the court will grant the big second amendment case out of the District of Columbia. Tom Goldstein had a GREAT preview here in Slate this week.

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Washington: Quick question: who is the next Justice to leave the Court and what line would you put on that particular person leaving? Hurry, I'm calling my bookie in Las Vegas!

Dahlia Lithwick: Odds are on David Souter leaving soonest.

Tell your bookie to put $20 on red for me too!

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Washington: Thoughts on Jeff Toobin's book? Too much fawning over Justice O'Connor?

washingtonpost.com: Discussion Transcript: Jeffrey Toobin on The Nine (washingtonpost.com )

Dahlia Lithwick: I loved Toobin's book. Its absolutely terrific. But it and Jan Crawford Greenburg's book are a real rorshach test. Liberals loved the former, conservatives loved the latter. So much for being above the fray huh?

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washingtonpost.com: So, how much did you contribute to this Antonin Scalia-as-Jack Bauer parody?

Dahlia Lithwick: Well, I wrote the script. But many many Slate staffers who are as obsessed with 24 as my husband and I are had great contributions. And the animation and sound is what makes it! I am hoping it gets me a meeting with Kiefer Sutherland. Or at least not deported to Canada!!!

I should add its by far the most violent thing my two year old has ever watched. He keeps asking to see it again!!!

Hey thank you all for reading! I think I am the slowest live-chat person in history and your great questions are still queued up. More next time.

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