The Psychology of the Supreme CourtWith the media spotlight on the recent developments concerning the Supreme Court, more and more people have become increasingly interested in the highest court in the land. Who are the justices that run it and how do they make their decisions?The Psychology of the Supreme Court by Lawrence S. Wrightsman is the first book to thoroughly examine the psychology of Supreme Court decision-making. Dr. Wrightsman's book seeks to help us understand all aspects of the Supreme Court's functioning from a psychological perspective. This timely and comprehensive work addresses many factors of influence including, the background of the justices, how they are nominated and appointed, the role of their law clerks, the power of the Chief Justice, and the day-to-day life in the Court. Dr. Wrightsman uses psychological concepts and research findings from the social sciences to examine the steps of the decision-making process, as well as the ways in which the justices seek to remain collegial in the face of conflict and the degree of predictability in their votes.Psychologists and scholars, as well as those of us seeking to unravel the mystery of The Supreme Court of the United States will find this book to be an eye-opening read. |
Contents
The Least Understood Branch | 3 |
The Selective Nature of Supreme Court Justices | 29 |
Steps in the DecisionMaking Process | 57 |
Copyright | |
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affirmative action analysis announced appeal appointed asked assignment associate justice attitudinal model attorney behavior bench Brandeis briefs Bush certiorari chapter Chief Justice Rehnquist circuit court claims Clarence Thomas Clinton colleagues concluded conference Congress conservative Constitution Court's decision decided decision-making defendants described discussion dissent Douglas draft Earl Warren election example experts federal judges Felix Frankfurter Florida Supreme Court Fortas Frankfurter goals Gore grant certiorari Harlan ideological individual influence issue judicial Justice Blackmun Justice Brennan Justice Breyer Justice Ginsburg Justice O'Connor Justice Scalia Justice Stevens Justice Thomas justice's law clerks leader liberal lower court majority opinion Marshall minority Miranda Murphy nomination noted oral arguments outcome percent petitions political position predicted President questions reflected response ruled S.Ct Sandra Day O'Connor Senate Souter statistical model Supreme Court justices term tices tion unanimous United votes Warren Burger Whittaker William Rehnquist writing wrote