After the laughter died down, the Bush administration's chief advocate, Solicitor General Paul Clement, rose to defend the law, observing that candidate Davis's challenge is odd since he has no limits on what he can spend.

NPR: Justices Hear Campaign Finance Case

Chief Justice John Roberts on Wednesday asked Solicitor General Donald Verrilli, who was defending the law, whether the government was contending that citizens in the South were more racist than those in Northern states.

WSJ: Justices Question Aspects of Voting Rights Act

The liberal justices' remarks explain Solicitor General Verrilli's conflicted response to Chief Justice Roberts.

WSJ: Henninger: Is the South Still Racist?

The committee, which also included the former chief justice of northern Himachal Pradesh state and a former solicitor general, submitted its report to the government on Wednesday.

WSJ: India Panel Seeks New Penalties For Sex Crimes

Chief Justice John Roberts put the question crisply the other way when he asked Solicitor General Donald Verrilli if Congress would have violated state powers if in 1996 it had instead adopted same-sex marriage at the federal level?

WSJ: Review & Outlook: 'Til the Supreme Court Do Us Part

Roberts said little to the lawyer for the plaintiff, but when Neal K. Katyal, the Deputy Solicitor General, took to the lectern to defend the Voting Rights Act, the Chief Justice pounced.

NEWYORKER: No More Mr. Nice Guy