WASHINGTON – As it heads into the closing weeks of the 1998-99 term, the U.S. Supreme Court clings to an informal tradition of saving the best for last.

The “best” in the context of the high court means the most difficult cases to decide, difficult because they are either legally complex or politically divisive, or sometimes both. And, much to the consternation of some court experts, “best” does not necessarily mean opinions that are paragons of clarity and reason.