This week, we're taking the first steps in a more detailed
analysis, one Justice at a time, of the Justices' voting
records. First up is Justice Garman's record in civil
cases.
From joining the Court in 2001 until the end of 2020, Justice
Garman has voted in 760 civil cases. The distribution of votes
reflects the downwards trend in the Court's docket: Justice
Garman cast 435 votes in civil cases between 2001 and 2010, and
only 325 from 2011 to 2020.
Those votes are almost evenly split between votes to affirm and
reverse - 305 votes to affirm, 304 to reverse. Curiously, the data
shows clear time trends; between 2001 and the end of 2008, Justice
Garman voted to affirm in 33 more cases than to reverse. From 2009
through 2020, that trend flipped, with votes to reverse
predominating. Justice Garman has cast split votes - affirm in part
and reverse/modify/vacate in part - in 106 civil cases. The rest of
her votes are scattered - 19 votes to deny, 17 to vacate, 1