The Brethren Inside the Supreme Court, Bob Woodward, Scott Armstrong. (Hardcover 0671241109)

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The Brethren Inside the Supreme Court
Author: Bob Woodward, Scott Armstrong

In Washington on most Friday afternoons, nine men gather together in a private room to decide some of the nation's most important disputes. This weekly conference if the Justices of the United States Supreme Court is probably the most important regular meeting in the country - and the most secret. — These nine Justices shape the future meaning of... more » the American Constitution. Their rulings define the rights and freedoms of every citizen. Yet the Court's deliberative process - its internal debates, the tentative positions taken by the Justices, the preliminary votes, the various drafts of written opinions, the negotiations, confrontations and compromises - is hidden from public view.

Much of recent history, notably the period that included the Vietnam war and the multiple scandals known as Watergate, suggests that the detailed steps of decision making, the often hidden motives of the decision makers, can be as important as the eventual decisions themselves.

_The Brethren_ is the first detailed behind-the-scenes account of the Supreme Court in action. Bob Woodward and Scott Armstrong have pierced its secrecy to give us an unprecedented view of the Chief and Associate Justices - maneuvering, compromising, and making the decisions that affect every major area of American life. _The Brethren_ is a spellbinding account of the Court's landmark decisions of the past two decades - on the death penalty, the busing of school children, the release of Nixon's tapes, abortion, obscenity - and a remarkable portrait of the men who made these decisions.

_The Brethren_ reveals as never before the implications of power and influence in the Supreme Court, beginning with the dramatic shift that occurred as leader ship passed from Earl Warren to Warren Burger. These years from the late 60's through the 70's were years of great and dramatic tension. With the forced resignation of Abe Fortas, the passing of both the highly esteemed Hon Harlan and the great jurist Hugo Black, and finally the illness and resignation of the Court's great libertarian, Wililam O. Douglas, a realignment took place. With Nixon's appointments - Burger himself, Harry Blackmun, Williem Rehnquist, Lewis Powell - and the appointment of John Paul Stevens by Gerald Ford, only Wililam Brennan and Thurgood Marshall remained of the old liberal majority. As new coalitions evolved, shifted, and realigned, the stage was set for dramatic confrontation.

_The Brethren_ is a brilliant narrative about the nation's most powerful legal arena, the court in which the meaning of the laws of the land is finally decided.

ISBN-13: 9780671241100
ISBN-10: 0671241109
Pages: 467
Reading Level: Young Adult
Rating:

Currently 3.9/5 Stars.

3.9 stars, based on 11 ratings

Publisher: Simon Schuster
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback
Members Wishing: 0
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Joanna G. (jovia) reviewed The Brethren : Inside the Supreme Court on 6/1/2005 + 33 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 2

Please be aware that this book came out in 1979 and deals with Supreme Court cases through 1976. It discusses the aftermath of Brown v. Board of education and Roe v. Wade.

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Justin S. reviewed The Brethren : Inside the Supreme Court on 1/4/2007 + 4 more book reviews

From the back cover: "Fascinating . . . the pace is swift, with details that rivet the attention."

"Superb . . . without question the most penetrating and intimate study of the inner workings of the Supreme Court ever to appear in print."

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Joey S. (Joey) reviewed The Brethren : Inside the Supreme Court on 1/2/2006 + 404 more book reviews

Although "The Brethren" was written a quarter of a century ago and it covers the Supreme Court sessions from 1969 to 1975, there are... reasons to hunt down a used copy of this book and read it today.

The Brethren attempts to present the reader with what "really" goes on in the Supreme Court. It describes the conferences, the personality of justices, and how justices feel toward each other, items that are generally hidden from the public.
Covering the terms from 1969-1975, Woodward and Armstrong gives us a look at the fourteen justices and how they dealt with the major issues facing the court. The book describes how Burger changed his conference votes so he could assign the majority opinion of the court, angering (the other Justices.) amazon reviews

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Charlotte O. reviewed The Brethren : Inside the Supreme Court on 4/29/2005 + 19 more book reviews

An interesting study of the inner workings of The Supreme Court.

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