April 2023 MBR The Judicial Studies Shelf

The Judicial Studies Shelf

The Handy Supreme Court Answer Book, second edition
David L. Hudson, Jr. J.D.
Visible Ink Press
43311 Joy Rd., #414, Canton, MI 48187-2075
www.visibleinkpress.com
9781578598236, $57.95, HC, 448pp

https://www.amazon.com/Handy-Supreme-Court-Answer-Book/dp/1578598230

Synopsis: The U.S. Supreme Court, its decisions, and its nominating process for new justices are often in the news, and given the Trump administration and the machinations of a Republican control Senate with respect to new appointments to the Supreme Court are increasingly controversial with respect to the American public. Maintaining that the Supreme Court is often not well understood, with the publication of this newly revised and updated second edition, "The Handy Supreme Court Answer Book: The History and Issues Explained", Constitutional law professor David L. Hudson, Jr., explains the cases, processes, and important history with an in-depth primer on the U.S. Supreme Court.

How has the Supreme Court justices' thinking on gun rights, abortion, free speech, freedom of religion, and many other controversial issues evolved? What were some of the court's most important and monumental decisions -- and failures? Which justices have (and have had) the most influence on the court? Has the nominating process always been so political and bitter?

Covering the history, nominating process, and court decisions on individual and other rights as well as a few fun facts, The Handy Supreme Court Answer Book: The History and Issues Explained by David L. Hudson, Jr., J.D. provides you with 600 answers to questions ranging from: How was the U.S. Supreme Court created?, to Have any Supreme Court justices been impeached?; to Which Supreme Court justice in the 20th century did not have a law degree?; to Which justice wrote that he couldn't define obscenity, but "I know it when I see it"?; to When did the Supreme Court invalidate a ban on interracial marriages? -- and so much more.

Analyzing controversial issues and various points of view, the second edition of "The Handy Supreme Court Answer Book" sheds a light on the differing and changing interpretations of the critical issues before the court, as well as the confirmation process and some of the court's most important justices.

Critique: Richly illustrated, and informatively enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of a helpful bibliography, a glossary, and an extensive index, and thoroughly updated since it was last published fifteen years ago, the second edition of "The Handy Supreme Court Answer Book" is an invaluable and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library American Judicial System collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that the second edition of "The Handy Supreme Court Answer Book" is also available in a paperback edition (9781578597826, $29.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).

Editorial Note: David L. Hudson, Jr. (https://www.ascd.org/people/david-l.-hudson-jr.) is a First Amendment Scholar with the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University. He teaches at Vanderbilt University Law School and Nashville School of Law.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promoting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no funds from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, internet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested individuals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.

The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "California Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwatch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview (dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugalmuse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publisher, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number, and list price).

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review