How We Know It Wasn't A Liberal Who Leaked SCOTUS Decision

[Justice]

64. Link is below but it is a subscription so you can see entire piece. I've included a key excerpt

https://www.wsj.com/articles/abortion-and-the-supreme-court-dobbs-v-jackson-mississippi-john-roberts-11651009292 Published in paper on April 27.

"Judging from the Dec. 1 oral argument in Dobbs, the three liberal Justices would bar the Mississippi law that bans abortion after 15 weeks as a violation of Roe and Casey. Justices Thomas, Neil Gorsuch and Samuel Alito are likely votes to sustain the law and overturn both precedents. Justices Kavanaugh and Barrett seemed, in their questioning, to side with the three conservatives."

"But Chief Justice John Roberts tried during the oral argument to find a middle way. He appeared to want to sustain the Mississippi law on grounds that it doesn’t violate Casey’s test of whether there is an “undue burden” on the ability to obtain an abortion. If he pulls another Justice to his side, he could write the plurality opinion that controls in a 6-3 decision. If he can’t, then Justice Thomas would assign the opinion and the vote could be 5-4. Our guess is that Justice Alito would then get the assignment."

"The Justices first declare their votes on a case during their private conference after oral argument, but they can change their mind. That’s what the Chief did in the case in 2012, much to the dismay of the other conservatives. He may be trying to turn another Justice now."

My view: Roberts was trying to sway one of the 5 to his position and someone on the right released Alito's opinion to spoil that effort.