"Some Supreme Court law clerks who worked at the court when there was a prolonged vacancy recalled that business proceeded apace, without additional tension and only a handful of split decisions. At the same time, the justices postponed consideration of some major cases while they awaited a new justice."

https://nypost.com/2016/02/17/this-is-what-happens-if-theres-only-8-supreme-court-justices/