Judges On Judging: Views From the Bench, 3rd Edition » (3rd Edition)

This fascinating collection captures the personal views of leading justices and judges on the judicial process, the function of judging, and the role of courts — particularly the Supreme Court — in our increasingly litigious society. It provides a uniquely intimate view of the judicial process, the dilemmas of deliberation and decision-making, and other matters about which court watchers and the general public usually can only speculate. No less important than the insights they offer about the operations of and the problems confronting courts, the selections make accessible contemporary justices and judges thinking about judicial activism and self-restraint, and the role of courts in the political process. The book contributes to the ongoing debate over off-the-bench commentaries and encourages readers to think about the qualities of judges — their temperament, character, judicial philosophies, and political views — as well as the role of courts in American politics.

Library Journal

Most Americans don't understand what judges do. Yet they are ready to comment on the latest instance of any perceived example of judicial wrongdoing. O'Brien (government, Univ. of Virginia) believes that one way to improve the quality of our public discussion about the proper place of the judiciary is to read what judges have to say about their jobs and the judicial process. In a remarkable collection of writings by a wide range of judgessome well known, some more reclusiveopinions are expressed about a number of court-related topics: the dynamics of the judicial process, the relationship of judges to the Constitution, the nature of our constitutional system, and the place of judges in a litigious society. As only two examples, former Robert Bork writes of tradition and morality in the common law, and Richard Posner presents the case against strict constructionism. This book should appeal to both scholars and the informed reading public. Recommended for public and academic libraries.Jerry E. Stephens, U.S. Court of Appeals Lib., Oklahoma City