- Justice Potter Stewart: You okay, Harry?
- Justice Harry Blackmun: I know you're all concerned with what you perceive as my indecisiveness, you think I can't make up my mind. It's not that, it really isn't. It's that the issues in this case are so grave, you answer one question, even tentatively you think you're safe, then two more questions appear on the horizon. As I see it, I can't make a final judgement until all the facts are in. Until all the arguments have been analyzed.
- Justice Potter Stewart: But it's not a math problem, Harry. You wanna find out one answer. Doesn't work that way.
- Kevin Connolly: Well, sir, so there's really no need for you to read this. I've... uh...
- [destroying his resignation letter]
- Kevin Connolly: I've changed my mind.
- John Marshall Harlan: No. No. You changed mine. And I salute you.
- Kevin Connolly: Is he sick? I know he has back problems but is it something more serious than that?
- Mrs. Paige: He has cancer, Mr. Connolly. He's a very private man. We would ask you to respect that.
- Kevin Connolly: Yes, ma'am.
- Covert Becker: You must be feeling pleased with yourself. You crossed the line, Connolly. Ask anybody.
- Chief Justice Warren Burger: John, you have betrayed me. These are your last days on the court. What on Earth has taken hold of you? It's Bill Brennan, isn't it? He's the one who's been twisting your arm.
- John Marshall Harlan: [laughs] Twisting my arm? Really?
- Chief Justice Warren Burger: Don't you patronize me, John!
- Hugo Black: John Harlan is one of the few people who can convince me that there is such a thing as a Good Republican.
- Chief Justice Warren Burger: Hugo, what is your vote?
- Hugo Black: We should hear the case, goddamn. Didn't you hear what I've just said?
- Justice William J. Brennan Jr.: 5 to 3 against Ali. John Harlan split of side in the opinion. C'mon, boys. Let's go to lunch. We can drown our sorrows.