It's an old story that the appointees - once they're on the court - they tend to go their own way. And it's not always the way that the Presidents who appointed them predicted would be the case.

to the broadest extent that the Supreme Court has ... authorized.

I think it's important to adhere to that ... if these questions come before me, either on the court on which I know sit or if I am confirmed on the Supreme Court, ... I need to decide those questions with an open mind on the basis of the arguments presented ... and the precedence of the court.

That is an area in which I think the court can redouble its efforts to try to come to some consistency in its approach.

I feel I should stay away from discussing specific cases that may come before the court,

[The previous Supreme Court nominees] took a very strict approach. I have taken what I think is a very more pragmatic approach and said, 'If I don't think that's likely to come before the court, I will comment on it,' ... And, again, perhaps that is subject to criticism because it is difficult to draw the line sometimes, but I wanted to be able to share as much as I can with the committee in response to the concerns you and others have expressed, and so I have adopted that approach.