At the time of his appointment in 1975, Justice John Paul Stevens was considered conservative. By the time he retired he was considered the court's 'liberal lion'.

George W. Bush sealed the Court's conservative makeup with his appointments of Samuel Alito and John Roberts. The article says the court's rightward lurch mirrors the 'national shift', and indeed more of the population identifies as conservative today.

Five of the ten most conservative judges since 1937 are on the bench today.

Something to bear in mind, as we await today's historic ruling on the ACA.