Weidenbaum Center Forum explores whether America is as bitterly divided as media suggests, March 28

Morris Fiorina, author of a new book on the perceived deep divide between America’s “red” and “blue” states, will lead a discussion on “Polarization, Tolerance, and the State of American Public Opinion” in a community forum at 7:30 p.m. March 28, in May Auditorium, Simon Hall. James L. Gibson, Ph.D., the Sidney W. Souers Professor of Government at Washington University, will join Fiorina for public discussion of his comments.

Study details how Bush might reshape U.S. Supreme Court

Sandra Day O’ConnorPresident Bush’s re-election, coupled with strengthened Republican control of the Senate, has fueled speculation that the next four years could bring about dramatic shifts in political composition of the U.S. Supreme Court. While Bush may be poised to push the court in a more conservative direction, a forthcoming study suggests his ability to make dramatic ideological changes still hinges on whether he has the opportunity to replace Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.

Supreme Court decisions predicted by online computer program

Supreme Court cases are now predictable, thanks to new computer model.As the U.S. Supreme Court moves into its new term, litigants, attorneys and the public will be closely watching its docket and speculating about its decisions. Now, thanks to the Supreme Court Forecasting Project at Washington University in St. Louis, court watchers everywhere will be able to log on to the Internet and obtain a forecast of how individual cases are likely to be decided. The project accurately predicted decisions in 75 percent of the cases heard by the Court in its last term.