Can the Justices Read All the Briefs?

The justices don't discuss the cases after they read the briefs. They have oral argument, is that right? The justices ask questions. Are the questions really designed to get answers from the ah lawyers, or to maybe persuade your colleagues of something through the way you ask the questions? That would be my guess. One of the good things about te re doing this in covet is that clarence thomas rarely asks questions.