 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
How have the quirks of personality -- and sometimes the personal politics -- of Supreme Court justices affected the history of the Court and the law it shapes? Why is judicial temperament especially important for chief justices? How do dissenting opinions work?
 Read and find out!
|
 |
Dissents have no legal force, but they do allow justices to express their disagreement, influence the majority to refine the weaker points of its holding -- and potentially lay the ground work for a later reversal.
Find out how!
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
From its inception in 1790, the Supreme Court has included diverse personalities from across the political spectrum, from brilliant scholars to seasoned politicians. Their ranks |
|
include former senators, congressmen, a president, and even a member of the NFL Hall of Fame.
Learn more! |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Justices often draw on the insights of writers, philosophers, and poets to substantiate a position. Opinion excerpts from the dialogues
of Plato to the poetry of John
Donne
offer a peek into the Court's personality. |
|
|
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
Explore memoirs, speeches, and audio and video histories of the justices. Learn about the near-assassination of Justice Field, or watch a video history of Justice Blackmun.
Go!
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
