The Rehnquist Court and the Constitution

By Tinsley E. Yarbrough

Book Overview

At the end of the 2000 presidential election, the nation saw firsthand the power of the Rehnquist Court when, for the first time in U.S. history, the Supreme Court took a definitive role in the election process. Now, Tinsley Yarbrough provides a comprehensive look at today's Supreme Court Justices and their record. An accomplished biographer, Yarbrough offers incisive portraits of the nine justices who now sit on the high bench, and tellingly reviews their nomination hearings. But the heart of the book is a systematic exploration of the Court's record in such areas as government power, economic regulation, and criminal justice. In decision after decision, the author discusses the various justices' opinions, arguments, and legal theories; he also offers his own analysis--including a sharp critique of the decision to allow the Paula Jones lawsuit to move forward.
Thoughtful, wide-ranging, and intelligently written, this book will stand as the finest study of the Rehnquist Court for years to come.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195146034
• ISBN13: 9780195146035
• Release Date: November 2001
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.2" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

excellent book

i think if you go through this book you would realise justice is not blind but very racialy prejudiced i would prefer straight shooter brilliant jusice scalia,excellent book

Well written peek behind the Supreme Court bench

The Rehnquist Court and the Constitution is not light reading, but for those who are interested in the high court, it is good reading. Yarbrough provides a concise examination of each Justice, including his or her background, confirmation hearing, and the political climate of that hearing. He captures the essence of each Justice as both jurist and human being. He then allows the reader to infer the interaction of those philosophies, personalities and egos on the direction that he perceives for significant constitutional issues. He does this without much, if any, editorial comment, though at times his own constitutional philosophy appears to peek out just a bit. Although this book is a bit heavy for anyone other than a constitutional scholar, it is well worth reading. Any student, teacher, judge, lawyer or just plain "court watcher" will appreciate this glimpse into the most secret and perhaps most powerful branch of our government.