Books on the Supreme Court of the United States and the Justices

The Supreme Court of the United States has started its newest term on October 1; each new term begins on the first Monday of October.  The Supreme Court consists of the Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices.

The current Chief Justice is John Roberts.

Of the eight Associate Justices, two are from New Jersey, Antonin Scalia and Samuel Alito.

There are three women Associate Justices, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan.

The remaining three Associate Justices are Anthony Kennedy, Stephen Breyer, and Clarence Thomas.

Besides books written about and by the Judges the library also has a number of books about the history of the Supreme Court, high profile cases, and other constitutional and law related topics.

Here are a few titles:

The Supreme Court: a C-SPAN book featuring the justices in their own words
Summary:  This book 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 two retired colleagues have granted interviews to a single television network. Ten of those interviews--the entire current court, plus retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor--are gathered here in this singular collection.



A People’s History of the Supreme Court: the men and women whose cases and decisions have shaped our constitution by Peter Irons
Summary: Beginning with the debates over judicial power in the Constitutional Convention of 1787 to controversial rulings on slavery, racial segregation, free speech, school prayer, abortion, and gay rights, constitutional scholar Peter Irons offers a penetrating look at the highest court in the land.

What Kind of nation: Thomas Jefferson, John Marshall, and the epic struggle to create a United States by James Simon
Summary: "What Kind of Nation" is a riveting account of the bitter and protracted struggle between two titans of the early republic over the power of the presidency and the independence of the judiciary. The clash between fellow Virginians (and second cousins) Thomas Jefferson and John Marshall remains the most decisive confrontation between a president and a chief justice in American history.

- Amelia R.