…The high court announced Wednesday that the justices plan to return to their majestic, marble courtroom for arguments beginning in October…

The justices had been hearing cases by phone during the pandemic…The court said that oral arguments scheduled for October, November and December will be in the courtroom but that: “Out of concern for the health and safety of the public and Supreme Court employees, the Courtroom sessions will not be open to the public.”…

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Because of the pandemic, [Amy Coney] Barrett has yet to be part of a traditional courtroom argument, with the justices asking questions of lawyers in rapid succession, jockeying for an opening to ask what’s on their minds. The arguments the court heard by telephone were more predictable and polite, with the justices taking turns asking questions, one by one, in order of seniority. That often meant the arguments went longer…

It also meant that lawyers and the public heard from the previously reticent Justice Clarence Thomas in every telephone argument. Before…Thomas routinely went years without speaking during arguments and had said he doesn’t like his colleagues’ practice of rapid-fire questioning that cuts off attorneys…