Book Notes: The Nine - Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court, by Jeffery Toobin (2007)
The Nine - Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court, by Jeffery Toobin (2007)
In his 2007 book, Jeffrey Toobin provided the backstory for this summer’s historic overturning of Roe and the cementing of the conservative political agenda on the Supreme Court. Distressing to no end; surprising, not really; a roadmap for reform, maybe. In any event, a really informative and interesting read.
Toobin predicts the future, predicts the current day, writing of
“[the] powerful conservative rebellion against the [Supreme] Court … a remarkable ideological offensive … [an] agenda [that] has remained largely the same over the decades. Reverse Roe v. Wade and allow states to ban abortion. Expand executive power. End racial preferences intended to assist African-Americans. Speed executions. Welcome religion into the public sphere. …Now, with great suddenness … they are very close to total control.”
Justice Alito delivered the opinion of the Court in the Dobbs case that overturned Roe. Alito was focused as early as 1985, as a young lawyer, on figuring out how to make the most of opportunities “to advance the goals of bringing about the eventual overruling of Roe”. The obvious political agenda of Supreme Court Justices with unchecked power is frightening. Toobin’s book was a call to action for those on the other side. However, Toobin’s book was written 15 years ago and Alito started planning 37 years ago. The other side was either asleep at the switch, or simply ineffective. Distressing.
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