In today's New York Times, Linda Greenhouse reports on an interview with Justice Breyer about his early years as a Supreme Court Justice:

  "I was frightened to death for the first three years," he said in a recent conversation. . . .
  "I was afraid I might inadvertently write something harmful," Justice Breyer said. "People read every word. Everything you do is important. There is a seriousness to every word, and you really can't go back. Precedent doesn't absolutely limit you. In almost every case, you're in a wide-open area. The breadth of that opening, getting up to speed on each case, constitutional law as a steady diet, the importance to the profession. ..." His voice trailed off, and he shook his head. "My goodness!" he exclaimed.