Status
Genres
Publication
Description
History. Law. Politics. Nonfiction. HTML:�I called this book Out of Order because it reflects my goal, which is to share a different side of the Supreme Court. Most people know the Court only as it exists between bangs of the gavel, when the Court comes to order to hear arguments or give opinions. But the stories of the Court and the Justices that come from the �out of order� moments add to the richness of the Court as both a branch of our government and a human institution.��Justice Sandra Day O�Connor From Justice Sandra Day O�Connor, the first woman to sit on the United States Supreme Court, comes this fascinating book about the history and evolution of the highest court in the land. Out of Order sheds light on the centuries of change and upheaval that transformed the Supreme Court from its uncertain beginnings into the remarkable institution that thrives and endures today. From the early days of circuit-riding, when justices who also served as trial judges traveled thousands of miles per year on horseback to hear cases, to the changes in civil rights ushered in by Earl Warren and Thurgood Marshall; from foundational decisions such as Marbury vs. Madison to modern-day cases such as Hamdi vs. Rumsfeld, Justice O�Connor weaves together stories and lessons from the history of the Court, charting turning points and pivotal moments that have helped define our nation�s progress. With unparalleled insight and her unique perspective as a history-making figure, Justice O�Connor takes us on a personal exploration, painting vivid pictures of Justices in history, including Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., one of the greatest jurists of all time; Thurgood Marshall, whose understated and succinct style would come to transform oral argument; William O. Douglas, called �The Lone Ranger� because of his impassioned and frequent dissents; and John Roberts, whom Justice O�Connor considers to be the finest practitioner of oral argument she has ever witnessed in Court. We get a rare glimpse into the Supreme Court�s inner workings: how cases are chosen for hearing; the personal relationships that exist among the Justices; and the customs and traditions, both public and private, that bind one generation of jurists to the next�from the seating arrangements at Court lunches to the fiercely competitive basketball games played in the Court Building�s top-floor gymnasium, the so-called �highest court in the land.� Wise, candid, and assured, Out of Order is a rich offering of inspiring stories of one of our country�s most important institutions, from one of our country�s most respected pioneers. �In this delightful collection of tales, Sandra Day O�Connor shows us the personal side of the Supreme Court while reminding us of the critical role the Court plays. It�s a lovely book�and a valuable treasure for all Americans.��Walter Isaacson, author of Steve Jobs.… (more)
Similar in this library
User reviews
Out of Order is far from it. It is a highly structured, superficial and trivial summary of the history of the Supreme Court. It continually returns to the era of George Washington, first to list all the Supreme Court justices named by every president, in order, and then
For the major public discourse of the first woman Supreme Court justice, I was hoping for some sort of insight into the all-male enclave. Instead, we get a history that pretty much anybody with wikipedia could have written. A high school textbook lovesong to the Supreme Court. This is a badly misnamed book.
At one point, Justice O'Connor describes the tradition of all the justices shaking hands every time they deliberate. This, she says, results in a wearying 36 handshakes every time. Well, last time I checked, there were nine justices, who would have to shake hands with eight people each, for a total more like 72. How she arrived at 36 is worrying. Makes you wonder (again) about some of the decisions that came out of that court.
The one thing Justice O'Connor could have offered us was the insider's view of the goings on at the Supreme Court Building. Unfortunately, the deepest we get is her revelation that (junior) Justice Kagan has used her position as manager of the cafeteria to introduce yogurt and pretzels to the Supreme Court. I'm sure TMZ will pick up on this any day now.
Finally, the book suddenly ends at page 131. That's it. That's all there is, except for a reprinting of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, which is probably not why you bought this book. In fact ,there is no reason to buy this book, as anyone with access to wikipedia could put together the same string of trivia. The great, outlandish characters like Holmes and Douglas get anecdotal treatment well beneath their worth, and you can get that from their biographies - but not here.
The Supreme Court deserves better, especially from someone who mentions repeatedly that she was the first woman to serve, and that she served for 25 years. The result is less than insightful.
The gravity of Justice O’Connor’s book is generated by a deep love and admiration of the constitution, the law, and this attempt at self-governance Thomas Jefferson called the “American Experiment”. The precision of a great intellect and scholar, along with the compassion of a grandmother’s voice allow Justice O’Connor to help us appreciate, value and understand our founding fathers’ gift of freedom and self-determination.
Her appointment to the bench by President Reagan in 1981 forced folks of all political persuasions to rethink their understanding of the reality of the day. Justice O’Connor’s response to the questions of the day was not to respond, but rather to simply be what she was. The ability to simply be genuine is what made her such a great jurist, and is also the other main contributing factor to her book. Her awe of the great men to proceed her on the court, as well as her excitement for those that followed her, especially the current court’s three women, was a palpable as a child’s anticipation of Christmas. And it was a window into the sacrifice that all nine members of the Supreme Court offer as a service to the country and legal system they love.
Any judge, regardless of the relative power or anonymity of their bench, seeks to listen dispassionately to the facts of the case and impartially apply the law to those facts. All judges hunt the equilibrium between being an active member of society, and at the same time maintain a distance that allows them to protect their objectivity. For those occupying a seat on the highest court in the land this creates an incredible isolation. Every word they utter or write, every decision they make, regardless of how personal or trivial, is believed to be a microscope viewing the judge’s soul and offering insight in predicting how they may rule. To be willing to be so alone is a great sacrifice and demands our thanks and respect for the crucial role they play in our democracy.
What I got was a book that any college student could write after a
I found the book to be patronizing (if you're over the age of fifteen), poorly written, and containing little of interest. I might recommend it for middle school students who had never read anything about the Supreme Court, but there's nothing to recommend it for anything other than that.
Truly disappointing.
O'Connor's voice isn't scholarly, but it isn't
Overall, it was a fast and informative read about the quietest branch of the U.S. Federal Government.
What I got was a book that any college student could write after a
I found the book to be patronizing (if you're over the age of fifteen), poorly written, and containing little of interest. I might recommend it for middle school students who had never read anything about the Supreme Court, but there's nothing to recommend it for anything other than that.
Truly disappointing.
This is a warm and gentle look at the court, not intended to be a criticism of justices or the decisions made over the years. It seems to mirror the moderate and balanced persona that is the public's perception of this well-regarded jurist.