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The Supreme Court: A C-SPAN Book, Featuring the Justices in their Own Words (C-Span Books) Hardcover – May 4, 2010

by C-SPAN (Author), Brian Lamb (Editor), Susan Swain (Editor),
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 12 ratings
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The Supreme Court grew out of a unique opportunity to interview all nine sitting Supreme Court Justices plus retired Justice O'Connor for a documentary on the Supreme Court. Through Brian Lamb and Susan Swain's interviews with our country's most influential judges, the book offers portraits of the Justices that introduces readers to the closed world of the Supreme Court, and what's it's really like to serve on the nation's highest Court.

Accompanying the Justices around the Supreme Court, and through offices steeped in historic memorabilia, Lamb and Swain offer readers a window into a fascinating world to which few have had access. In these pages, Justice Sotomayor reflects on her first impressions of the job and the acclimation process. Justice Breyer takes us behind the scenes on a private tour of his Chambers as he describes how the Court works. And Chief Justice Roberts talks about the role of the Court in Society, the role of the Chief Justice, and the process of deciding cases.

Enriching this unique material are interviews with journalists, court historians, and other experts on the Court. Journalists Joan Biskupic and Lyle Denniston (the longest serving Supreme Court reporter) talk about the process that unfolds in the Court and the impact of a new member of the Court. Clerk of the Supreme Court William Suter provides insights into the traditions of the Court. Historian Jim O'Hara discusses the Supreme Court building and its history. Two attorneys who have argued numerous cases in front of the Supreme Court tell readers what it's like facing the justices in fast paced oral arguments.

Vividly illustrated with color photographs, the book is a perfect gift for anyone interested in the makings of this powerful institution.
Previous page
  1. Reading age
    9 years and up
  2. Print length
    416 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    11 and up
  5. Dimensions
    6.25 x 1.06 x 9.25 inches
  6. Publisher
    PublicAffairs
  7. Publication date
    May 4, 2010
  8. ISBN-10
    158648835X
  9. ISBN-13
    978-1586488352
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The companion book to the 2009 C-SPAN documentary records the only time that all the living Supreme Court justices, the nine sitting members and their two retired colleagues, have granted interviews to a single television network. Transcripts from those interviews provide insight into the daily operations and history of the nation's highest court; facts about the building it occupies, trivia (William Howard Taft was the only individual to serve as President and Supreme Court Justice), and numerous personal recollections are also included, as are interviews with experts on the Court's history and daily operation. An appendix presents short biographies of the justices, a list of everyone who has ever served on the Court, and a section noting petitions and arguments heard each year, from 1980 to 2008 (peaking in 2006 with over 10,000 heard and 73 argued). Readers will gain insight into the Court and the justices, including the different approaches they take in writing their opinions, in a volume that will particularly engage history buffs and anyone with an interest in governmental procedure.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

C-SPAN set out to do a documentary on the history of the stately Supreme Court building when a confluence of circumstances turned the project into a collection of interviews with the then-sitting jurists, as well as retired associate justice Sandra Day O'Connor and recently seated justice Sonia Sotomayor. To get such broad access to this group of famously media-shy figures was a major coup. Part 1 of this book presents personal interviews with the justices, offering a human touch as well as a look at the internal workings of the Supreme Court. Chief Justice John Roberts shares nuanced perspective on the justices' functions and duties, Justice Stephen Breyer offers a tour of his chambers, Justice Sotomayor reflects on her adjustment process, and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg stresses the collegiality among jurists, notwithstanding many 5–4 decisions. Part 2 features interviews with Supreme Court experts, including journalist and biographer Joan Biskupic and former solicitor general Drew Days III. Part 3 includes supplementary material of reference value to readers interested in the Supreme Court. The total package is a fascinating look. --Vernon Ford

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ PublicAffairs; 1st edition (May 4, 2010)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 416 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 158648835X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1586488352
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 9 years and up
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 11 and up
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.45 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 1.06 x 9.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 12 ratings

About the author

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Susan Swain

Susan Swain

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Susan Swain has been interviewing Washington notables for three decades, sitting down with presidents and first ladies, members of Congress, Supreme Court justices, historians, and political journalists. She integrates this with her management role – since 2012, she's also served as co-CEO of the public affairs cable network.

She and C-SPAN founder Brian Lamb have collaborated on nine books, published by PublicAffairs. Their latest, published in spring 2019, is "The Presidents: Noted Historians on America's Best -- and Worst-- Chief Executives." Susan edits Brian Lamb's interviews with the country's top presidential historians into lively essays that provide snapshots into life events that have shaped our leaders, political challenges they faced, and the legacies they left behind. The book's unique twist -- it's organized by C-SPAN's often cited Historians' Survey of Presidential Leadership.

Some of Swain and Lamb's past titles include ""The Supreme Court," and "Abraham Lincoln." And in 2015, Susan produced "First Ladies," following a year-long biography series she hosted for C-SPAN on the lives of every presidential spouse.

"The Presidents" has already been chosen by the History Book Club as a featured title for April 2019.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
12 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

anthony
5.0 out of 5 stars Book review
Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2020
Verified Purchase
Great Book! I have never read up on the court, so this book was a fine introduction to the court. Enjoyed the interviews with the Chief Justice and Associate Justices. Greatly appreciated the history of the building, the court traditions and the listings of previous chief justices and Associate Justices. Highly recommend the book.
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Ronald H. Clark
4.0 out of 5 stars Some interesting insights into the Supreme Court
Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2010
This book is an outgrowth of C-SPAN's recent production of a program about the Supreme Court building. If you have never visited the Court in person here in Washington, you may find this an odd topic--but the architecture and history of this magnificant building are quite interesting. After a brief introduction about the program and how it was crafted, the book divides into three sections. The first section, which is quite interesting, consists of interviews with all the sitting Justices in 2009 (including Justice Sotomayor but not Justice Souter who was interviewed but would not allow its complete publication), as well as retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. A fairly wide range of topics are covered, not just those relating to the building. While these are not dynamic or vigorous interviews designed to pin the Justices to the wall regarding controversial issues, nonetheless some interesting facts emerge. I found the most valuable interviews to be with Chief Justice Roberts, and Justices Scalia, Kennedy, Alito and Sotomayor. Justices are seldom interviewed at length in any connection, and because of the friendly nature of these interviews, they all seem somewhat relaxed and informal, and desirous of cooperating.

The second section ("Supreme Court Experts") consists of interviews with reporters who cover the Court, former Solicitor General Drew Days III, Maureen Mahoney, a leading court advocate who clerked for Chief Justice Rehnquist, the Supreme Court Historian and the Court's clerk. All of these interviews disclosed interesting information, but I found that of Joan Biskupic (who covers the Court for "USA Today" and has written two important Justice biographies), Ms. Mahoney, and William Suter (the Court's clerk) particularly helpful. The Drew Days III interview, however, was a knockout--full of inside information, clearly articulated, with his usual class and professionalism. The third section is basically supplemental information, such as statistics on Court workload, Justice biographical data, and some C-SPAN requests for greater press access (including the immediate release of some oral arguments).

The book runs some 370 pages and includes an index and two sections of color photographs--other black and white pictures are scattered throughout the text. Brian Lamb and his C-SPAN team are to be commended for the care and professionalism manifested throughout the book--dealing with Justices is not always the easiest way to spend your time. I have been reading books about the Court, and even teaching it at times, for about 45 years, and I found out some new and interesting things about this most remarkable (but misunderstood) institution. That is the best praise I can give this helpful resource.
6 people found this helpful
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anne j. poe
5.0 out of 5 stars We need to kno
Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2020
Verified Purchase
This is an amazing picture of ourJustices seated in 2010. My only complaint is wish for an update. Beautifully
Written. Anne
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George M. Coburn
5.0 out of 5 stars Understanding the Role of the U.S. Supreme Court
Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2013
Verified Purchase
This greatly helps to dispel the mystery about the Court and what it does. It makes vivid an understanding of the individual justices and how they perform their work. This should reduce the misimpression that they function in an "ivory tower" detached from the mainstream of American government, whereas they are at the center of it.
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balbertsr
5.0 out of 5 stars Reviewing, "The Supreme Court", A Book by C-Span.
Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2011
Verified Purchase
An excellent read. Full of very interesting facts, personal details, and pictures! I've thoughly enjoyed this book, and highly recommend it, for any government afficondo.
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Publius
2.0 out of 5 stars Interesting but...
Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2010
This book, while interesting, is not revealing in the way it could have been. All the sitting justices were interviewed for this book. Instead of asking probing questions of the justices, they were asked softball queries. Of course, one realizes that C-SPAN was granted unique access to the Court and the people that work there, and thus, they were probably required not to ask inquisitive questions. As a result, this book amounts to little more then a guidebook that would be sponsored by the Court available at the Supreme Court bookstore. However, there are some interesting tidbits of information that I did not know before, such as how all the justices shake hands before oral arguments or that the most junior justice is responsible for opening the door and taking notes at conference. Overall, a good, although not really balanced introduction to the way the Supreme Court works.
9 people found this helpful
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