In Arguments on Abortion, the sequel to the best-selling May It Please the Court, Stephanie Guitton and Peter Irons have selected the eight major cases on reproductive rights, including live tape recordings as well as transcripts of the arguments, excerpts from the final decisions, photographs of the justices who presided over the cases, reading lists, and a chronology of court history on reproductive rights.
You might expect a book full of court transcripts dull; in fact I thought it would be a little dry. But I've been amazed by this book. I picked it up on a sale table in a book store - and came here to see if I could find more in the series - One thing strikes you right away - Supreme Court justices are SMART. The second thing that strikes you is that they have a huge amount of power, but are subject to the same prejudices and personal attachments that affect us all (especially with regards to abortion). You can see them grapple with deeply personal issues. It's fascinating (and sometimes even witty) to read the chronology of court cases before, including and after Roe v Wade. You can clearly see how abortion law has evolved. The book definitely has a pro-choice slant, so if you're expecting a pro-life diatribe, this isn't your book. The language is clear and easy to read without the kind of legal mumbo-jumbo we're used to hearing in movies. This has been an enriching read, one that makes me feel profoundly human, fallible, and American.
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