31.   The justices appeared satisfied with neither argument.

32.   The Supreme Court justices appeared to be unanimous in their sympathy to this point of view, but their decision is months away.

33.   Throughout the argument, the justices appeared confused about exactly what the two lower courts decided in the case.

34.   Two other decisions in criminal law cases left Scalia and Thomas isolated as the only votes to uphold prosecution positions that the other justices appeared to regard as extreme.

35.   With both sides, the justices appeared to be testing out whether there is ground for legal controversy.

36.   But on Friday, some justices appeared to be arguing the opposite of their normal positions.

37.   Some justices appeared skeptical.

38.   Some justices appeared to agree.

39.   Supreme Court justices appeared to doubt whether Congress can try to protect women against violence by letting rape victims sue their attackers in federal court.

40.   The justices had appeared deeply divided over whether there were grounds to overrule the state court.