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Maybe someday
39
/100
I Index Overall Rating
Readers
26/100Critics
53/100Scholars
Author:
Stephen Breyer
Publisher:
Harvard University Press
Date:
September 14, 2021
Sitting justice Stephen Breyer reflects upon the authority of the Supreme Court--how that authority was gained and how measures to restructure the Court could undermine both the Court and the constitutional system of checks and balances that depends on it.
What The Reviewers Say
In April Justice Breyer spoke from a lectern to a Zoom audience, and now his speech is preserved in book form. Those wishing to know Justice Breyer’s thoughts can choose either to read the book or to watch the two-hour speech on YouTube. You’d feel edified in doing either.
A [...] rosy view and idealism permeate [Breyer's] latest book, even as Breyer addresses the declining legitimacy of the Supreme Court in the public eye. He seeks to provide a historical backdrop to current public discussions about reforming the court. Like Breyer’s opinions and general life outlook, The Authority of the Court and the Peril of Politics reflects a balancing of interests and reverence for history. He declines to face up to the deepening gulf between blocs of justices, seen most recently in orders involving asylum policy, coronavirus measures and abortion rights. But Breyer does temper his optimism with some pragmatism.
A cogent overview of the court’s crucial role, the application of which is sure to be discussed among scholars..
