The Political Thought of Justice Antonin Scalia: A Hamiltonian on the Supreme Court
Professor Staab has produced a carefully crafted, nuanced portrait of Antonin Scalia—the U.S. Supreme Court's most colorful and influential conservative justice. Comparing Scalia to an equally intriguing American character—Alexander Hamilton— is as original as it is brilliant! (Barbara A. Perry, Carter Glass Professor of Government at Sweet Briar College)James Staab's comprehensive review of Justice Scalia's approach to judging argues that Scalia is a Hamiltonian and forthrightly grapples with Scalia's departures from Hamilton's nationalism. The first major work to move beyond the simplicities of calling Scalia a conservative or a textualist, instead locating Scalia's jurisprudence in American political thought, Staab's book is an invaluable contribution to understanding one of the most important justices on today's Supreme Court. (Mark Tushnet, William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Law, Harvard Law School)In an increasingly crowded field of judicial biographies of Justice Scalia, Professor Staab’s book stands out. His factual, intellectual, and sophisticated analysis of the Justice’s HamiltonianWeltanschauungdeserves close attention by all seriously desirous of understanding Scalia’s uniquely challenging jurisprudence. (Henry J. Abraham, the James Hart Professor Emeritus at the University of Virginia and author of Justices, Presidents, and Senators)This highly sophisticated attempt to link the jurisprudence of Justice Antonin Scalia to the thought of Alexander Hamilton shows the inadequacy of traditional conservative labels. . . . Of definite value for upper-division undergraduates and above . . . [and] essential for law collections. (CHOICE)In the 200-year-history of the Supreme Court, no sitting justice has been the subject of such an extensive scholarly literature, as has Scalia. Through countless articles and numerous book-length treatments a contentious sub-literature has formed that attempts to explain his jurisprudence and effect on the law. … one can only be intrigued by a book that describes Scalia as a Hamiltonian. (Journal of Law & Politics)... an insightful and very readable analysis of Justice Scalia's jurisprudence, particularly with respect to federalism and separation of powers. Students and specialists alike will find the work useful and illuminating. (David M. O'Brien, the Leone Reaves and George W. Spicer Professor, University of Virginia)This is a first-rate work of scholarship, analysis, and clear writing. (Appellate Practice Journal)