Storm Center: The Supreme Court in American Politics

By David M. O'Brien

Book Overview

In this engaging and illuminating narrative of the Supreme Court, David O'Brien shows students how the Court is a "storm center" of political controversy, where personality, politics, law, and justice come together to shape and often change drastically the society in which we live. Details such as how the Court decides which cases to review, the rise of individual opinions, and the expanded role of clerks are explained in lively, accessible prose. The Ninth Edition includes new material on President Barack Obama's appointments of Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan; Chief Justice Roberts's role in conference and in important administrative changes within the Court; and new material from the late Chief Justice William Rehnquist's papers and from the Clinton Presidential Library.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0393911969
• ISBN13: 9780393911961
• Release Date: February 2011
• Publisher: W W Norton & Co Inc
• Length: 458 Pages
• Weight: 1.21 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.3" x 1.3" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

Witty and informative

As an undergraduate student studying constitutional law, I found this book an excellent introduction into the court politics. O'Brien writes and organizes his book in a coherent way, allowing for the maximum material absorption coupled with intriguing facts and footnotes. "Storm Center" reveals the court as a human and error-prone institution evolving over time into a kind of super-legislation, becoming at the same time both more independent and intertwined in regard to the other two branches.Overall, an enjoyable read for anyone willing to peak at the kitchen of law.

Helpful insight into the court...

This is an excellent examination into the history of the court and the politics that led to its current make-up. O'Brien does a good job making this an interesting and often riviting historical examination. This has become a valuable tool in my personal and educational understanding of today's court. With the public eye close to the court these days (Presidential Election) the individual and personal examinations that O'Brien has provided on the court has helped me to make my own judgements and predictions as to possible decisions. An excellent purchase for the beginner or well seasoned court watcher.

Get Acquainted with the Supreme Court

If you know only a bare minimum about the Supreme Court, or know a lot, this is an excellent book to supplement that knowledge. It is both an excellent narrative about some of the biggest battles between the Justices themselves and an informational text explaining the ins-and-outs of how a case actually comes to be decided by the Court. All in all, it is well worth reading.