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60 reviews for:
Nine Black Robes: Inside the Supreme Court's Drive to the Right and Its Historic Consequences
Joan Biskupic
3.88 AVERAGE
60 reviews for:
Nine Black Robes: Inside the Supreme Court's Drive to the Right and Its Historic Consequences
Joan Biskupic
3.88 AVERAGE
SO much research had to go into this book. From pouring over SCOTUS transcripts to quotes Justices to the unique perspective the author has as a Supreme Court reporter to be able to give the inside chattering of what was happening inside chambers. I thought this book was a really good overview of the cases from Dobbs to Bruen.
The book does a great job covering the more recent history of the Supreme Court and its shift right over the last decade plus. The major limiting factor of the book however is the limited historical narrative approach the author takes. The book is somewhat light on high level analysis and deep research. A great introduction to the topic, but it is not an exhaustive work on the recent Supreme Court or the institutions/people behind it.
Interesting overview of the Supreme Court over the last few decades, narrowing the focus down to the past decade, and how the court's makeup came to be. If you follow the news, there's nothing new here, but for those who were kids or teenagers during some of these years may be wondering how the court could skew so far right now. This book is a great history lesson on how important a person's vote for President can not only affect policy for years, but how their appointments to the Supreme Court can have repercussions that last decades.
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Journalism is sometimes called the first draft of history, and this book is a history of mostly recent events by a journalist specializing in legal issues. To recent readers, the ratio of familiar and unfamiliar will vary with how much attention they have been paying to Supreme Court issues and decisions. These readers can skim the familiar and appreciate the details that go beyond what they knew. There are dips into older decisions where they are relevant to current cases. Readers can also appreciate pattern as it is shown to evolve. Future readers, on the other hand, will find the sweep and detail necessary and compelling in seeking to understand the development of the Court as we now experience it.
First and foremost, I didn't think it was possible for me to adjust my feelings on former Justice Scalia. Dare I say it, I don't find him as offensive after this book. His dissents, majority opinions and other writings still bring back dark times of when I first studied law.
Within the book itself, Biskupic does an excellent job of showing the inner working of the Supreme Court; how it's both politically neutral and more recently, politically driven. The Supreme Court has always shaped the fabric of our country. It's painfully obvious from watching the news, following cases and well described in this book, how the GOP, with their use of the justice system, is unraveling that fabric.
An excellent read, but I do wish Biskupic went more into detail about the cases themselves. There's so much to unpack in several recent rulings.
Within the book itself, Biskupic does an excellent job of showing the inner working of the Supreme Court; how it's both politically neutral and more recently, politically driven. The Supreme Court has always shaped the fabric of our country. It's painfully obvious from watching the news, following cases and well described in this book, how the GOP, with their use of the justice system, is unraveling that fabric.
An excellent read, but I do wish Biskupic went more into detail about the cases themselves. There's so much to unpack in several recent rulings.
In recent years it seemed that the Supreme Court of the United States was acting more arbitrarily and unfeeling with the strike down of Roe V. Wade. This book is a peak into the lives of the Justices and some of their views. Many of their decisions are soundly based once you have all of the facts, and it seemed to roll on just fine... until the year 2016. Starting when Senator McConnel stopped the justice choice from President Obama, and then leading into the Trump years... that is when it all went to hell.
When I read “The Nine” years ago my eyes were opened to my naïveté about SCOTUS.
Over the past 7-8 years I have followed things more closely so I was aware of each case and decision in this book. But reading it all together and connections to influencers and egos …it’s so clear that these are just people, and smart people can interpret the constitution in many ways and easily flip what they think/say it means depending on what they want the outcome to be. It’s horribly distressing and depressing.
Over the past 7-8 years I have followed things more closely so I was aware of each case and decision in this book. But reading it all together and connections to influencers and egos …it’s so clear that these are just people, and smart people can interpret the constitution in many ways and easily flip what they think/say it means depending on what they want the outcome to be. It’s horribly distressing and depressing.
A sobering history. Will not make you feel better about the 2024 election. I believe, well researched and written.