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Title: The Supreme Court : A new edition of the Chief Justice's classic history by William H. Rehnquist ISBN: 0-375-40943-2 Publisher: Knopf Pub. Date: 06 February, 2001 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $29.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.13 (15 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Combination of Personal Reflection & History
Comment: Chief Justice Rehnquist describes what it was like during the "dues paying" stage of his career and in so doing talks about the history of the Supreme Court. He's an intriguing storyteller and this book is a nice balance between the personal and the historical. By the nature of the writing one can pick up a sense of his judicial philosophy, in fact he writes about the work of the court, "the individuals who comprise the Court at any particular time have a great deal to say about the kind of decisions that the Court makes."
In terms of judicial philosophy and the role the constitution assigns the third branch of government, one should take from this book an observation about that topic if one takes nothing else: "During the Constitutional Convention in 1787 it was proposed that the Supreme Court be granted a power to 'revise' laws passed by Congress, but the convention rejected this proposal. Justices of the Supreme Court have a great deal of authority, but it is not an authority to weave into the Constitution their own ideas of what is good and what is bad."
I recommend this book. It is good reading and it provides historical insight from a personal viewpoint.
Rating: 5
Summary: An informative and interesting read for all
Comment: With the lucid and accessible writing style found in his other two excellent books, All the Laws but One and Grand Inquests, the Chief Justice presents an informative account of the Supreme Court.
According to the Chief Justice, the primary intended audience of the book is the "interested citizen trying to find out more about how the government works." (p. ix) In this endeavor, he is quite successful. The first half of the text presents a mid-level review of the history of Supreme Court filled with interesting anecdotes and useful background information for the beginner. He achieves a well-considered balance: excising unnecessary detail to ensure accessibility (and a reasonable page count) while still maintaining a rich account of the Court's growth during the past two centuries. The citizen reader is sure to come away with a greater understanding of the Court's work and a greater appreciation for its role under the Constitution.
At the same time, the Chief Justice's history offers something for those more acquainted with the Supreme Court and the law more generally. An introductory section detailing his first day as a judicial clerk to Justice Robert Jackson and the later chapters dealing with the certiorari and deliberative processes of the Court address topics often unfamiliar to the average practicing attorney. In addition, the Chief Justice offers an analysis and a comprehensive account of the Steel Seizure Case, which was decided by the Court while he was a clerk for Justice Jackson. On a final note, for the Supreme Court trivia buff, throughout the book the Chief Justice debunks a number of "myths" -- for example, the change in title from "Mr. Justice" to simply "Justice" occurred before Justice O'Connor's appointment to the Court, not after.
All told, the Chief Justice's account offers something for every reader -- young and old, lawyer and layman. One is certain to find it a worthwhile read.
Rating: 3
Summary: Depends on what you're looking for
Comment: Whether you'll enjoy this book depends on what you're after. If you want an interesting read and a basic introduction to the history of the U.S. Supreme Court, this is the book for you. But if you're like me, and (1) you know that the Chief Justice is also a professor at the University of Arizona teaching a course in Supreme Court history and expect this book to reflect that, (2) you're a lawyer or otherwise have a deep interest in the study of law, and (3) you're somewhat of a history buff, you'll probably be disappointed. While Rehnquist provides some basic historical context for certain cases he discusses, "basic" is the key word. As for the discussion of the cases themselves, don't expect anything you wouldn't find in any commercial outline that any 1st year law student would have. Rehnquist does provide some insight into his personal views on a few issues, but not in depth.
This is a good, relatively light read about Supreme Court jurisprudence. It's not a journey into the inner thoughts and feelings of the Chief Justice.
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Title: A Matter of Interpretation by Antonin Scalia, Amy Gutmann ISBN: 0691004005 Publisher: Princeton Univ Pr Pub. Date: 27 July, 1998 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
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Title: The Majesty of the Law: Reflections of a Supreme Court Justice by Sandra Day O'Connor ISBN: 0375509259 Publisher: Random House Pub. Date: 08 April, 2003 List Price(USD): $25.95 |
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Title: All the Laws but One : Civil Liberties in Wartime by William H. Rehnquist ISBN: 0679767320 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 04 January, 2000 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: First Among Equals: The Supreme Court in American Life by Kenneth W. Starr ISBN: 0446527564 Publisher: Warner Books Pub. Date: 10 October, 2002 List Price(USD): $26.95 |
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Title: Closed Chambers: The Rise, Fall, and Future of the Modern Supreme Court by Edward Lazarus ISBN: 0140283560 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: June, 1999 List Price(USD): $17.00 |
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