In this article, we develop a method for illustrating graphically (a) the
majorities that issue tightly split opinions; (b) the swing votes between the
different majorities; and (c) the opinions those majorities issue.' We develop this
method in the setting of the five-member Indiana Supreme Court as it was
constituted between 1999 and 2010 using its composition as defined by its junior
justice being Justice Robert D. Rucker.2 The other members of the court were
Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard and Justices Brent E. Dickson, Frank Sullivan,
Jr. (an author of this article), and Theodore R. Boehm. As the court's membership
did not change during that nearly eleven-year period, there were a substantial
number-176-tightly split decisions. We examine them and observe many swing
votes, varied coalitions, and differentiation by opinion subject matter. We
develop graphical techniques to illustrate those different tendencies
