Final answer:
It takes a majority of Supreme Court justices, currently at least five, to render a court opinion. The chief justice or the most senior justice in the majority assigns who writes the opinion, and dissenting or concurring opinions are also composed to express different viewpoints.
Step-by-step explanation:
To render an opinion in the U.S. Supreme Court, a majority of the justices must agree on the decision. Currently, this means at least five of the nine justices must be in agreement. However, the Court's decisions are not always unanimous, and when the chief justice is in the majority, they either write the opinion or assign it to another justice in the majority. If the chief justice is in the minority, the most senior justice in the majority assigns the writing of the opinion. Justices in the minority have the option to write dissenting opinions, while those who agree with the majority's outcome but for different reasons may file concurring opinions.
Once oral arguments have concluded, the justices discuss the case in a private conference and take an initial vote. The decision is then drafted, with judicial clerks assisting justices in conducting detailed research essential for crafting either a majority, dissenting, or concurring opinion.
The majority opinion sets precedent and includes reasoning for the decision, linking to precedent and related cases. On the other hand, dissenting and concurring opinions also play a role in the legal process, as they can influence future decisions or provide a basis for overturning precedent.