NCJ Number
147059
Editor(s)
K L Hall,
J W Ely Jr,
J B Grossman,
W M Wiecek
Date Published
1992
Length
1051 pages
Annotation
This sourcebook on the U.S. Supreme Court contains biographies of every justice who ever sat on the court, major cases the court has decided, essays on key issues that have confronted the court, information on judicial matters and legal terms, and a historical review of the court.
Abstract
The book provides a comprehensive guide to the history and operation of the Supreme Court. Biographical entries explore the personal and professional careers of justices, justice nominees who were rejected by the Senate, and prominent lawyers who have argued before the court. Concepts central to the court's operation are discussed, such as due process, separation of powers, and equal protection of the law. The way in which justices conduct daily court operations is described, and more than 400 significant court decisions are included. The book also focuses on developments in substantive and procedural areas in which the court's decisions have played a major role. For example, substantive topics encompass abortion, affirmative action, censorship, education, employment discrimination, libel, obscenity, pornography, racism, religion, school prayer, cameras in the courtroom, coerced confessions, insanity defense, right to counsel, self-incrimination, and trial by jury. In addition, the book contains chronological essays on the court's history and explains technical and legal terms. The sourcebook is organized alphabetically with cross- references. Appendixes provide additional material that does not readily fit any one entry but that is important in understanding the court's history and operation.