In the US for a long time it's been traditional and often admired for our government leaders to offer each other respect and friendship even when they vehemently disagree politically. It's pretty common for Congresspeople of different parties to argue vociferously all day, and then set it all aside and go out to dinner together after work. George and Laura Bush are actually good friends with the Obamas. In this context, to know that Ginsburg and Scalia were on friendly terms doesn't surprise me at all. I can see how it might seem weird, but I think it serves a positive purpose — reminding us that we're all human and have more dimensions to us than just our political views.

It's a tradition that's started to fade in recent years as politics have become more divisive and aggressive, and the current president obviously has zero interest in respecting his opponents, let alone cultivating friendships with them.