O'Connor, veteran associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, distills in this book the scores of talks she has given across the country and around the world in the 20 years since her accession to the high court. O'Connor, the author of the bestselling memoir Lazy B, is an enthusiast of the American legal system, reaching back to its origins in the Magna Carta and, later, in the English Privy Council, with its power to invalidate legislation. Declaring federal and state laws unconstitutional, of course, is the core of the Supreme Court's authority over this country's legal system, and O'Connor traces the exercise of that authority from the era of Chief Justice John Marshall to Brown v. Board of Education. In other chapters, O'Connor profiles Supreme Court titans such as Holmes and Taft, and reviews the long struggle to gain for women the right to vote. Elsewhere, the author suggests reforms for the jury system, extols the benefits of an independent judiciary and offers a graceful tribute to Justice Thurgood Marshall. Canons of ethics prohibit judges from public comment on controversial matters likely to arise in their future cases, and a Supreme Court justice cannot reveal the dynamics of the Court's deliberations. These rules of discretion pervade O'Connor's book. Divisive (and provocative) issues such as abortion, the death penalty or affirmative action are addressed only in the broadest possible generalities. Purged of controversy, O'Connor's book is an engagingly written civics lesson, delivering a warm appreciation of legal history and principles but little light on the issues the Supreme Court confronts today. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

O'Connor gets down to the nitty-gritty of her profession. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Adult/High School-Justice O'Connor gives a history of the U.S. judicial system with an emphasis on how the Supreme Court evolved into its present form. For students only dimly aware of the court through a basic civics class and the occasional sensational case highlighted by the media, this title will prove to be enlightening. The book takes on a conversational tone, and it's easy to imagine oneself in a university lecture hall with O'Connor as the (usually) fascinating professor who has her feet firmly planted in the real world. To get the most out of the book, it should be read cover to cover. However, it is also useful for readers who wish commentary on particular aspects of the Supreme Court, historical cases, or personalities. The tone is even, and O'Connor has a kind and often complimentary attitude toward fellow justices past and present. High points are her experiences working with Justice Thurgood Marshall, and her thoughts on women and the law. As a bonus, she includes a glimpse into her views on judicial systems of countries that are undergoing their own painful evolutions, such as the former Soviet bloc. All in all, this is a good book for readers who would like a personable introduction to one of our nation's most powerful institutions.-Sheila Shoup, Fairfax County Public Library, VA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

O'Connor, the first female Supreme Court Justice, offers a broad-ranging look at the most revered and enigmatic institution of the federal government, from the day-to-day activities to portraits of individual justices to historic perspective on how the Court has evolved. One of the most compelling chapters recalls individual justices who have had the most impact, including Oliver Wendell Holmes, who distinguished between law and morality and contributed to understanding First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and the rights of the accused to a fair trial; John Marshall, considered the greatest chief justice, who pressed for unanimity in Court opinions through the force of legal reasoning; Thurgood Marshall, who used anecdotes to convey the underlying human and social issues behind legal cases; and Chief Justice Warren Burger, who emphasized raising the quality of justice by improving the management of the courts. O'Connor details how the Court has evolved, including the fact that more recent Courts have issued unanimous opinions in only 44 percent of rulings, with 19 percent decided by a single vote. Readers interested in the history and operations of the U.S. Supreme Court will enjoy this straightforward and accessible look at how the Court has evolved and continues to shape American democracy. --Vanessa Bush

An informative, behind-the-scenes view of daily life at the tallest bench in the land. One of the most ingenious points of American democracy, writes Justice O'Connor (Lazy B, 2001), is its according "dual sovereignty" to the national and state governments; it is also one of its thorniest aspects, a source of constant conflict. Hence, the Supreme Court, which, since the days of John Marshall, has reserved for itself the power to determine whether a given law falls within the bounds of the Constitution. Justice O'Connor looks at a few of the signal cases the Court has heard in the last half-century, such as Brown v. Board of Education; profiles predecessors and colleagues like Thurgood Marshall and Warren Burger; holds forth on practical problems, e.g., jury duty ("It is incumbent upon those who oversee their jury systems to make sure that jury service, for whatever length of time, is bearable"); and exalts the better angels of American democracy, however fragile, witness the principle "that certain fundamental rights, to which every citizen is entitled, mist be placed outside the reach of political exigency." Throughout, Justice O'Connor writes with lively humor; considering the mounds of paper that cross her desk: for instance, "The Court is a more reliable backstop for the health of the paper industry than any protectionist legislation Congress might pass." Humor aside, and despite her conservative leanings, she also writes with a sharp sense of appreciation for dissenting views, and she is keenly appreciative of the growing role of women in political decision-making, arguing that "society as a whole can benefit immeasurably from a climate in which all persons, regardless of gender, have the opportunity to earn respect, responsibility, advancement, and remuneration based on ability." An able primer on the role of the Supreme Court in American life, and on the merits--and shortcomings--of American democracy. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

In this book, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor reflects on various facets of American law and the history of the Supreme Court. What is perhaps most intriguing are her recollections of her reception as the first woman appointed to the high court and the growing role of women in law. Justice O'Connor's style is informal and accessible. The reader should not expect to find penetrating analyses of controversial constitutional issues. Instead, Justice O'Connor provides lively commentary on "a bit of history" of selected legal issues, interesting profiles of several Supreme Court justices, problems facing women in the law, the organization and structure of the modern American legal profession and the judiciary, and the rule of law in an era of globalization. The book is a good introduction to the nature and function of American law and the distinctive role of the US Supreme Court. ^BSumming Up: Highly recommended. General readers and lower-division undergraduates. M. M. Feeley University of California, Berkeley