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God vs. the Gavel: Religion and the Rule of Law
Marci A. Hamilton
Cambridge University Press, 2005
A Balanced Look at Righting Judicial Incompetence
+ Separation of Church and State Does Not Permit Harmful Acts
+ Brilliant AND Accessible
When you think of people who break the law and get by with it, what kind of person comes to mind? A rogue bureaucrat who can arrange an audit of anyone who opposes him? A cop on the take, who can hide some evidence and manufacture the rest? A celebrity who can buy a trial, and later write a book ...
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A Matter of Interpretation: Federal Courts and the Law (The University Center for Human Values Series)
Antonin Scalia
Princeton University Press, 1998
A Lot of Strong Points With a Few Frustrations
+ A unique and fascinating foray in the controversial area of constitutional interpretation:
+ Good, but...
I think the largest challenge facing Scalia was turning his simple philosophy into an entire book.
When interpreting the constitution we should look at its original meaning.
There it is in 11 words. Scalia manages to expound on his theory a little bit by differentiating it from strict ...
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Men in Black: How the Supreme Court Is Destroying America
Mark R. Levin
Regnery Publishing, Inc., 2005
Thought provoking history and analysis of the Supreme Court.
+ Educational and Fascinating
Mark Levin gives wonderful insight on the most important legal decisions and the men and women who wrote these decisions. He does a particularly good job in discussing Hugo Black and how his anti-Catholicism led to 'separation of church and state' entering constitutional law. He, also, gives an ...
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Becoming Justice Blackmun: Harry Blackmun's Supreme Court Journey
Linda Greenhouse
Times Books, 2005
Great Book
+ Supreme Book
+ Intriguing Book; Disappointing Justice
+ Very enjoyable, not boring at all
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A Court Divided: The Rehnquist Court and the Future of Constitutional Law
Mark Tushnet
W. W. Norton & Company, 2005
Politics and the Rehnquist Court
+ an interesting appraisal
This book deals with the Rehnquist Court up until sometime before the Presidential Election of 2004. The extraordinary stretch of incumbent justices (no changes since Breyer's confirmation in 1994) was still in progress, although we know now that it would not last for much longer. The author ...
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The Supreme Court: A new edition of the Chief Justice's classic history
William H. Rehnquist
Knopf, 2001
Excellent Historical Review!
+ Excellent introduction to the Supreme Court
+ "The Supreme Court" is Supreme
+ Solid Introduction the Supreme Court
+ Fascinating personal experience but spotty history
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The Most Activist Supreme Court in History: The Road to Modern Judicial Conservatism
Thomas M. Keck
University Of Chicago Press, 2004
Good overview of post New Deal constitutional development
Prof. Keck has written an interesting book on Constitutional Law since the New Deal, focusing on the debate over the proper scope of judicial review in the Supreme Court(ie: should judges be activist and make their own substantive appreciations on policy questions or should they faithfully defer to ...
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Lazy B: Growing up on a Cattle Ranch in the American Southwest
Sandra Day O'Connor, H. Alan Day
Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2003
An All-American Ranch Family
+ Outstanding book!
+ No Shade from the Sun
+ A Very Impressive Lady!
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Centennial Crisis: The Disputed Election of 1876
William H. Rehnquist
Knopf, 2004
Broader than just the 1876 election, but that's no condemnation
This book, as it happens, came to my eyes just after I read another book also discussing the 1876 election, by Roy Morris, entitled "Fraud of the Century" (which I have also reviewed). The books could not have been more different. Morris' book is a partisan polemic who uses his book on the 1876 ...
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The Brethren: Inside the Supreme Court
Bob Woodward, Scott Armstrong
Simon & Schuster, 2005
Good Behind The Scene Coverage
+ Constitutional law (little) -- Moral judgements (plenty) -- Office politics (lots)
+ A good read
I found The Brethren to be quite informative as well as entertaining as I was provided a glimpse of the personalities and quirks of Justices and the Politicians that interacted with them. Seeing behind the somber facades allowed the reader to consider each Justice as an individual with his own ...
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The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States
Oxford University Press, USA, 2005
A worthy companion
+ The de facto reference guide for the US Supreme Court
+ The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States
+ An excellent reference
+ Massive tome on the Supreme Court.
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Radicals in Robes: Why Extreme Right-Wing Courts Are Wrong for America
Cass R. Sunstein
Basic Books, 2005
Why less is sometimes more
+ A Rare Book in the Middle
This book has helped me to stregthen my view, that it is always dangerous to strive for a greater good by utterly human means. That is what the fundamentalists do. They believe to be in a position that allows them to pass judgement on everybody else, but not on themselves. A fundamentalist does not ...
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America's Constitution: A Biography
Akhil Reed Amar
Random House, 2005
Many interesting insights
+ A rare gem
+ scholarly, yet readable
+ A must read.
+ Leaves no stone unturned.. buy it NOW.
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All the Laws but One: Civil Liberties in Wartime
William H. Rehnquist
Vintage, 2000
Brilliant and prescient
+ Writ of Habeas Corpus / Civil Rights in War Time
+ "A citizen is a person owing allegiance to some organized government, & not a person in an idealized 'state of nature...'"
+ An Informative Read
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Scalia Dissents: Writings of the Supreme Court's Wittiest, Most Outspoken Justice
Kevin A. Ring
Regnery Publishing, Inc., 2004
Judicial Insightful
+ Character & the Constitution- two things that don't change!
+ Great insight into Scalia's mind and legal philosophy
+ Writings of the Supreme Court's Wittiest, Most Outspoken Justice
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