This book both explores the role of law in Star Trek, and how Star Trek illuminates tensions within our own legal system. On the first point, the authors make a strong effort of outlining the rules of law in the Star Trek universe, particularly stressing how informal law and adjudication have become by the 24th century. I'm impressed at how seriously the authors treat the Star Trek universe on its own terms. By and large, they resist the temptation to declare it either "realistic" or "unrealistic."
In going the opposite direction, several of the authors highlight Star Trek episodes with poignant "morals" about the law. I went to law school and have to say I thought several of the essays were quite provocative. The "Kirk's Constitutional Enterprise" essay enters into a real debate within the judicial politics literature about the merits of judicial supremacy. A few of the later essays feel forced, but still probably informative to non-lawyers.
One gap in the book is any sustained comparison between Starfleet law and U.S. military law. Some of the authors portray law as seen in Star Trek as equivalent to law in the United Federation of Planets. However, given that the episodes take place from the point of view of Starfleet officers, it's possible that we're only seeing Starfleet law in operation. Extrapolating from that might make as much sense as trying to understand U.S. constitutional law through a courts-martial. It's a point that at least ought to have been raised.
Overall, the first few essays are the best and have become classics in the field. However, most of the book is worth reading. I can only how we see more scholarship taking a critical look at law and politics in popular literature and movies.
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