A Change of Direction for the Roberts Supreme Court?

The US Supreme Court began a new session today. Despite rejecting two cases involving the separation of church and state, this year's agenda includes up plenty of opportunities for dramatizing divisions among the justices. Last year, the court took a sharp turn to the right when Justice Sandra O'Connor was replaced by Samuel Alito. Chief Justice John Roberts now presides over a court that can swing either way. Patricia Millett, who spent 11 years in the Justice Department, is a partner at a Washington law firm.