US Supreme Court Research: Books

A comprehensive guide to the practices and procedures of the Supreme Court, this book explains the Court's jurisdiction, the process of reviewing certiorari, and more.

This book discusses every important aspect of the Court, delving into the justices' backgrounds and the confirmation process, and putting the Court's developments into their political and historical contexts.

First published more than four decades ago, Robert McCloskey's classic work on the Supreme Court's role in constructing the U.S. Constitution has introduced generations of students to the workings of our nation's highest court. Sanford Levinson brings this new edition into the twenty-first century, revising the last two chapters, which cover the events of the past forty years, and updating the book's preface, coda, chronology, and bibliographical essay. As in the second edition, McCloskey's original text remains unchanged. In his historical interpretation, he argues that the strength of the Court has always been its sensitivity to the changing political scene, as well as its reluctance to stray too far from the main currents of public sentiments. In two new chapters, Levinson discusses the Court's more recent role, especially during the 1960s, as protector of the civil rights and liberties of minorities. He updates as well the Court's continuing role as monitor of the welfare state, looking at the litigation following the 1996 changes in welfare policy by Congress and the President. Also covered in this new edition are the recent Court decisions on federalism, which perhaps portend an enhanced role for the court as the "umpire" of the federal system; the clash between Congress and the Court over the scope of the required accommodation by government of religious conduct; and the Court's role in the impeachment of President Clinton. Wonderfully readable and concisely written, McCloskey's book is an essential guide to the past, present, and future prospects of America's highest court.

The Supreme Court has continued to write constitutional history over the thirteen years since publication of the highly acclaimed first edition of The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court. Two new justices have joined the high court, more than 800 cases have been decided, and a good deal ofnew scholarship has appeared on many of the topics treated in the Companion. Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist presided over the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton, and the Court as a whole played a decisive and controversial role in the outcome of the 2000 presidential election. UnderRehnquists's leadership, a bare majority of the justices have rewritten significant areas of the law dealing with federalism, sovereign immunity, and the commerce power.This new edition includes new entries on key cases and fully updated treatment of crucial areas of constitutional law, such as abortion, freedom of religion, school desegregation, freedom of speech, voting rights, military tribunals, and the rights of the accused. These developments make the secondedition of this accessible and authoritative guide essential for judges, lawyers, academics, journalists, and anyone interested in the impact of the Court's decisions on American society.

Written by former law clerks, legal scholars, biographers, historians, and political scientists, the essays in In Chambers tell the fascinating story of clerking at the Supreme Court. In addition to reflecting the personal experiences of the law clerks with their justices, the essays reveal how clerks are chosen, what tasks are assigned to them, and how the institution of clerking has evolved over time, from the first clerks in the late 1800s to the clerks of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Chief Justice William Rehnquist. In Chambers offers a variety of perspectives on the unique experience of Supreme Court clerks. Former law clerks--including Alan M. Dershowitz, Charles A. Reich, and J. Harvie Wilkinson III--write about their own clerkships, painting vivid and detailed pictures of their relationships with the justices, while other authors write about the various clerkships for a single justice, putting a justice's practice into a broader context. The book also includes essays about the first African American and first woman to hold clerkships. Sharing their insights, anecdotes, and experiences in a clear, accessible style, the contributors provide readers with a rare glimpse into the inner workings of the Supreme Court.

A veritable feast of 1,500 quotes from more than 1,000 Supreme Court decisions, this is the first such reference devoted solely to the Supreme Court. Dating from the beginning of the Republic to the present, these excerpts provide a powerful historical overview of the mission and majesty of the Supreme Court. They are topically arranged and cover the legislative, judicial, and executive branches; states' rights; due process; free speech; equal rights; and freedom of religion. Each entry features the quote -- especially chosen for its profound, compelling, and inspirational nature; the name of the case, primary citation, year, and author; and the kind of decision (dissenting, concurring, or opinion of the Court).

The United States Law Week is a weekly publication that includes recent opinions of the Supreme Court. The law library has the current issue both in print and online, as well as archived issues.

The United States Reports are the official reports containing all US Supreme Court opinions from 1790; they are generally updated every two to three months, so they may not include very recent opinions.

This book contains briefs from famous Supreme Court cases prior to 1975.