"...an Ice Capades of former solicitors general"

Motherhood has not mellowed Dahlia Lithwick. She covers the Supreme Court beat for Slate, translating legal arguments into plain language while adding a healthy dose of smart-ass humor. Her latest article, covering the arguments on the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (also known as McCain-Feingold) can be found here.

Think the Supreme Court doesn't affect your life? Think again. In the last year alone, the Supremes have ruled on university affirmative action policy, sodomy laws, and porn filters on library computers. (OK, some of this may affect more of you than others.)

Also, the folks making these important decisions are appointed for life by the President (and, yes, confirmed by the Senate). Think Justice Scalia is reactionary? Too bad. Think Justice Ginsberg is wooly-minded liberal? Tough. You're stuck with them until they retire.

Then they'll be replaced...but by whom? And how will the new additions mesh with the current Court? Currently, a number of decisions are made 5-4. One retirement could have a huge impact, depending on the justice retiring and the replacement.

In short, kids, you need to know what's going on with the Supremes. Miss Dahlia will be happy to explain it all for you.