Overview

In 1986, the Supreme Court's leading conservative, William H. Rehnquist, labeled by Newsweek as ""The Court's Mr. Right,"" was made Chief Justice. Almost immediately, legal scholars, practitioners, and pundits began questioning what his influence would be, and whether he would remake our constitutional corpus in his own image. Would the center hold, or fold? This collected volume, edited by Martin H. Belsky, is the third in a series which includes The Warren Court and The Burger Court, both edited by Bernard Schwartz. It gathers together a distinguished group of scholars, journalists, judges, and practitioners to reflect on the fifteen-year impact of the Rehnquist Court. The work provides an overview of the Rehnquist Court's influence to date, examines in detail the seminal issues confronted by the Court, and places the Court in broad historical perspective. Subjects discussed include First Amendment rights and cyberspace, criminal justice reform, the Court's pattern of constitutional interpretation, the international impact of the Rehnquist Court, and the Supreme Court's increasing interaction with state constitutional law. A comprehensive look at the significant shifts in constitutional jurisprudence under Rehnquist's leadership, this volume illustrates how the Rehnquist Court has brought us almost full-circle from the judge-made revolution of the Warren Court. A must-have for all students of the Court and legal history, this book contains fascinating insights into one of the century's most controversial courts and a legacy still in the making.

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9780195148398

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Reviews

well-written and thought provoking...very accessible to a lay public --Law and Politics Book Review This great collection of pieces by distinguished scholars and writers affords a unique opportunity to gain in depth knowledge into the work of the Court since 1986 when William H. Rehnquist became Chief Justice. The reader will gain insight into Rehnquist's leadership and may follow the path of the Court during this period when it has opted to play a smaller role in the lives of our people. Anyone who has an interest in the Court and in the impact of its decisions will enjoy and treasure this book. --William G. Paul, Past President of the American Bar Association If journalism is the first draft of history, this book is the second: an insightful retrospective on the Rehnquist Supreme Court while it is still in operation. All the themes are fresh as today's headlines: affirmative action, church and state, federalism. When the sun does set on the Rehnquist Court, this book will be the road map for evaluating its place in Supreme Court history. --Tony Mauro, Supreme Court correspondent, Legal Times A valuable collection of essays by distinguished academics, judges, and practitioners documenting how the Rehnquist Court has wrought dramatic changes in constitutional jurisprudence. --John E. Sexton, Dean, Benjamin F. Butler Professor, New York University School of Law The sheer diversity of the contributors and the breadth of their coverage makes The Rehnquist Court a must-have. Distinguished legal academics, both supporters and detractors of the Court's work during the last fifteen years, are represented, as are the multiple perspectives of jurists, practitioners, historians, and journalists. The result is a unique, three-dimensional view of an institution in action, affected by history, politics, and personal dynamics, in addition to precedent. Belsky's collection, of great interest to both law students and legal academics, also should intrigue Court watchers, history buffs with an eye to the legal efforts to confront social problems during the last generation, and others just curious to understand how this most nuanced of institutions--the Supreme Court--really functions. --Stanley Ingber, Professor of Law, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Author Information

Martin H. Belsky is Dean and Professor of Law at the University of Tulsa College of Law. He has served as counsel and Chief Counsel to congressional committees, written numerous articles on constitutional law topics, and is a frequent contributor to conversations about the Supreme Court with the press.

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