The Supreme CourtThe sixteenth Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist’s classic book offers a lively and accessible history of the Supreme Court. Chief Justice Rehnquist’s engaging writing illuminates both the high and low points in the Court's history, from Chief Justice Marshall’s dominance of the Court during the early nineteenth century through the landmark decisions of the Warren Court. Citing cases such as the Dred Scott decision and Roosevelt's Court-packing plan, Rehnquist makes clear that the Court does not operate in a vacuum, that the justices are unavoidably influenced by their surroundings, and that their decisions have real and lasting impacts on our society. The public often hears little about the Supreme Court until decisions are handed down. Here, Rehnquist reveals its inner workings--the process by which cases are chosen, the nature of the conferences where decisions are made, and the type of debates that take place. With grace and wit, this incisive history gives a dynamic and informative account of the most powerful court in the nation and how it has shaped the direction America has taken. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 57
Page 5
... later , when I angled south across the Pennsylvania line into western Maryland , it was snowing hard . I was following U.S. Route 40 , the old " national road , " which would take me to within forty miles of Washington . I pulled up at ...
... later , when I angled south across the Pennsylvania line into western Maryland , it was snowing hard . I was following U.S. Route 40 , the old " national road , " which would take me to within forty miles of Washington . I pulled up at ...
Page 12
... later . At that point George interrupted to suggest that since it was now ten minutes before noon , if we were to go down and sit in one of the cubicles , off the main part of the courtroom , which were allotted to the law clerks , we ...
... later . At that point George interrupted to suggest that since it was now ten minutes before noon , if we were to go down and sit in one of the cubicles , off the main part of the courtroom , which were allotted to the law clerks , we ...
Page 13
... later learned that all lawyers representing the United States before the Supreme Court , and some private attorneys as well , made their arguments in formal morningwear . Thirty or forty spectators were seated on the upholstered benches ...
... later learned that all lawyers representing the United States before the Supreme Court , and some private attorneys as well , made their arguments in formal morningwear . Thirty or forty spectators were seated on the upholstered benches ...
Page 15
... later he became an associate justice of the Supreme Court . Stanley Reed wore rimless glasses at a time when they were not fashionable ; he was almost com- pletely bald now , with a large round face . He , like his fellow Ken- tuckian ...
... later he became an associate justice of the Supreme Court . Stanley Reed wore rimless glasses at a time when they were not fashionable ; he was almost com- pletely bald now , with a large round face . He , like his fellow Ken- tuckian ...
Page 18
... Justice Jackson's opinion . Only later did I come to realize that it would be all but impossible to assemble a more hypercritical , not to say arrogant , audi- ence than a group of law clerks criticizing an opinion 18 WILLIAM H. REHNQUIST.
... Justice Jackson's opinion . Only later did I come to realize that it would be all but impossible to assemble a more hypercritical , not to say arrogant , audi- ence than a group of law clerks criticizing an opinion 18 WILLIAM H. REHNQUIST.
Contents
3 | |
ix | 134 |
The Steel Seizure Case in the Lower Courts | 151 |
The Steel Seizure Case in the Supreme Court | 169 |
Presidential Appointments to the Supreme Court | 209 |
Picking the Cases to Be Decided | 224 |
Oral Argument | 239 |
Deciding the Cases | 252 |
The Court in Its Third Century | 267 |
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administration appointed argued associate justice attorney authority bench bill Black Brandeis certiorari chambers Charles Evans Hughes Chief Justice circuit Civil claims Clause colleagues conference Congress Constitution court of appeals Court-packing deal decision Democratic discussion dissent district court Douglas draft Dred Scott elected enacted federal courts Felix Frankfurter Fourteenth Amendment Frankfurter Franklin Roosevelt Frémont government's granted Harvard Law School hear Holmes Hughes Iowa issue Joseph Story judicial Judiciary jurisdiction Justice Jackson later law clerks Law School lawyer legislation legislature Lincoln lower court Madison majority Marbury ment Missouri Missouri Compromise nine nominated opinion oral argument party petition for certiorari political President President's question railroad Reed regulate Republican Roger Taney Roosevelt rule secretary Senate served slavery Stanley Reed Steel Seizure Supreme Court Taney term tion trial Truman unconstitutional United United States Constitution vacancies Vinson vote Warren Washington week York