Hear, Hear

The Nixon Supreme Court may well be heading toward a more conservative judicial position, but in matters of style and appearance, the Justices show a liberal appreciation of novelty. In the 1973 budget, in fact, Chief Justice Warren Burger has called for Government limousines and drivers for the eight Associate Justices, redecorated offices for all of them and an increase in the court budget from $4.7 million in 1972 to $5.7 million.

The court's most startling innovation, ending a 182-year tradition, is the transformation of the 30-ft.-long bench behind which the Justices sit. As soon as the Justices recessed three weeks ago, workmen started sawing up the noble slab of marble and Honduran mahogany ("I never saw wood so tough to cut," one workman complained).

When the court reconvenes on Feb. 22, the sawed-up bench will be reassembled in the form of a half-hexagon. The purpose: to enable the venerable Justices to see and hear each other more clearly. No longer, in theory, will cases be delayed by two Justices asking questions simultaneously, or by the familiar request from opposite ends of the bench: "Would you state that again, please?"

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