Linda Greenhouse

5768. Justice on the Brink The Death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Rise of Amy Coney Barrett, and Twelve Months That Transformed the Supreme Court, by Linda Greenhouse (read 3 Dec 2021) This book has just been published, having been finished on 21 July 2021. It covers the the events of the Supreme Court from October 2020 through July 2021,and was written as the year progressed. So it cannot have much current reflection concerning the time as a whole. But it is a good commentary, and makes many valid comments about the tendencies of the various justices. But one must be fearful as to some of the aims of the some of the justices. I think that Alito is the easiest of the justices to predict on his wing of the Court. I have no expectation he will ever vote as I prefer, whereas I have some hope for the other justices, even Clarence Thomas. And I still think Amy Barrett might sometimes surprise a person. Following the Supreme Court is a fascinating enterprise, and this book highlights some of the reasons therefor.… (more)

5427. The Burger Court and the Rise of the Judicial Right, by Michael J. Graetz and Linda Greenhouse (read 29 Nov 2016) This is an excellent book, right up to the present. It discusses the Supreme Court during the years from 1969 to 1987--the years when Warren Burger was Chief Justice. But in order to give context the book discusses events before and after those years as well. Its principal divisions are captioned Crime, Race, Social Transformation, Business, and The Presidency. Each topic is covered as thoroughly as even a lawyer would want, with full footnotes and legal citations. The authors show the ways that the Burger Court cut down on the accomplishments of the Warren Court, even though they did not reverse them--leaving such for the Rehnquist and Roberts Court to do. I found all the discussion of exceptional interest, although I will admit the section under Business dealing with workplace inequality is pretty technical and without close study is hard to absorb. But all the other parts of the book are of huge interest and most enlightening.… (more)