AP Courtside: Roberts cuts into Supreme Court phone argument

The coronavirus pandemic has forced the tradition-bound Supreme Court into some big changes. Starting Monday, the justices are hearing arguments by telephone for the first time.

The court will hear a total of 10 cases over six days, including President Donald Trump's bid to keep certain financial records private. You can listen here.

Here are some observations, trivia and analysis from our Supreme Court reporters (all times local): 10:45 a.m.

Chief Justice John Roberts is keeping the first telephone Supreme Court arguments moving with phrases like: Thank you, counsel. Arguments are scheduled to last only an hour as is typical at the Supreme Court. The justices are asking questions in order of seniority.

Roberts is cutting in to questioning when it's time to move from one justice to the next, stopping government attorney Erica Ross with a thank you before calling on the next justice to speak.

Some of the justices on Monday had niceties for Ross that aren't present in a usual argument. Justice Stephen Breyer started a question and then paused. He said: Good morning, anyway. Justice Elena Kagan and Justice Brett Kavanaugh also had a good morning for Ross.

The Supreme Court has begun hearing its first arguments by phone, and normally quiet Justice Clarence Thomas has asked a question.

After Marshal Pamela Talkin called the court to order at 10 a.m. Monday, Chief Justice John Roberts began the questioning of government attorney Erica Ross. Roberts passed the questioning to Thomas, who hadn't asked a question during arguments in more than a year.

Monday's case is about whether Booking.com can trademark its name. Thomas said he had a couple of questions. He started with: Could Booking acquire an 800 number that's a vanity number 1-800-Booking, for example, that is similar to 1-800-Plumbing, which is a registered mark?