Conferences are held in the chief justice's chambers and are confidential. Only the justices attend. The chief justice starts off the discussion, followed by the associate justices in order of seniority. After discussions, the justices vote in order of seniority. A majority is required to decide a case, but the votes in conference are not binding.
Votes are final only when the opinion is issued.
The process of writing opinions is the most time-consuming and complicated process of the court. A justice who writes an opinion must convince four other justices to join the opinion. Thus begins a long process of negotiation and compromise. Each draft is circulated among the other justices, who will edit and make suggestions. Law clerks do a great deal of work during this process.