The Supreme Court: A C-SPAN Book, Featuring the Justices in their Own Words (C-Span Books) Review
The Supreme Court grew out of an historic opportunity to interview all of the living Supreme Court justices for a C-SPAN feature documentary about the Court, the only time that the nine sitting members and their retired colleagues have granted interviews to a single television network. Eleven of those interviews—the entire current court, including the newest member, Justice Elena Kagan—are gathered here in this singular collection.
In their conversations with the justices, Brian Lamb and Susan Swain bring readers into a fascinating world to which few have had access. Chief Justice John Roberts talks about the role of the Court in society, his role as chief justice, and the process of deciding cases. Justice Stephen Breyer takes us on a private tour of his chambers and describes the differences between the Court and the Congress. And new Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan reflect on their first impressions of the job. Through these encounters, the justices’ personalities, intellects, and devotion to the Court emerge.
Enriching this material are Mark Farkas’s interviews with journalists, court historians, and other experts on the Court. Reporters Joan Biskupic and Lyle Denniston discuss the Supreme Court in action and the impact of a new member of the Court. Clerk of the Supreme Court William Suter illuminates the traditions of the Court. Historian James O’Hara discusses the Supreme Court building and its history. Former Solicitor General Drew Days III and attorney Maureen Mahoney describe the experience of facing the justices in fast-paced oral arguments.
The Supreme Court offers readers a rare window into the nation’s highest court through the eyes of those who serve there. It is absorbing reading for anyone interested in this vital and powerful institution.
