Justices, Presidents, and Senators: A History of the U.S. Supreme Court Appointments from Washington to Bush II
Dr. Abraham's up-to-date classic is THE DEFINITIVE book on Supreme Court appointments. No wonder it graces the shelves of the justices' libraries! All Court observers will relish its eloquent, insightful, vivid descriptions of judicial politics and history. (Barbara A. Perry, Sweet Briar College)Everyone agrees that the selection of Supreme Court justices is important, but there is far less agreement about how the selection process is run and whether it actually yields good justices. Henry Abraham's magisterialJustices, Presidents, and Senatorshas long supplied a stable point of reference in this stormy debate over how the high bench is staffed and how well its members do their jobs. His updated and revised survey of presidential motivations, senatorial maneuvering, and judicial performance is sweeping in its scope, surefooted in its analysis, and will shape scholarly debate and informed public discussion for years to come. (Keith J. Bybee, Syracuse University)I consultJustices, Presidents, and Senatorson a weekly, if not daily, basis. Without question, it is the most balanced, the most accurate, and the most authoritative treatment of appointments to the Court. With this new edition, the inimitable Henry Abraham has pulled off what only he could do: improve on perfection. (Lee Epstein, Northwestern University School of Law)A definitive and fascinating study of the political history of Presidents appointing and the Senate confirming (or not) Supreme Court justices. (David M. O'Brien, University of Virginia)Based on a meticulously constructed and engagingly written historical narrative, Professor Abraham offers keen observations on the justices of the Supreme Court, the presidents who nominated them, and the senators who confirmed them.Justices, Presidents, and Senatorsprovides readers with unique insights into the politics of judicial selection as well as the success (or failure) of individual justices in putting their imprimatur on the Court's jurisprudence. The result is a book that students will love and scholars will wish they had written. (Wendy L. Martinek, Binghamton University)Justices, Presidents. and Senatorsis the standard reference book for anyone interested in understanding how the selection of Supreme Court justices has evolved over the course of American history. The new edition of Professor Abraham's book does not disappoint. Whether one agrees or disagrees with his analytic framework, the core information Professor Abraham provides is essential for anyone interested in the politics of judicial selection including scholars, policy actors, and informed citizens. (Herbert Kritzer, William Mitchell College of Law)Justices, Presidents, and Senatorsis the rare classic that has remained a classic for almost a half century. Every student of constitutional law, politics, history, and development has read this book and looks forward to each new edition. (Mark Graber, University of Maryland)This book has long been the essential starting point for any informed citizen or student hoping to learn about Supreme Court appointments. It is full of lively details and thick with insights about the long history of the sometimes uneasy relationships between presidents, justices, and senators. (Keith E. Whittington, Princeton University)Henry Abraham illuminates the Supreme Court in a way that is accessible to legal academics, political scientists, and more general court watchers alike. His insights into the choices presidents made for their appointments to the bench are first rate, as is his analysis of the impact and success of those chosen to sit on the nation’s highest Court. For anyone seeking a comprehensive history of the Supreme Court, as well as of its nomination and confirmation process, Justices, Presidents, and Senators is a must read. (Timothy R. Johnson, University of Minnesota)Henry Abraham's seminal work on US Supreme Court appointments is essential reading for anyone interested in the appointment of Supreme Court justices over the course of US history. Abraham's identification of criteria important in the appointment process has laid the groundwork for much of the continuing scholarship on judicial appointments. His historically rich discussion of the appointment of justices by Presidents from Washington to Bush will fascinate scholars and generally interested readers alike. (Christine L. Nemacheck, The College of William & Mary)The updated edition of Abraham'sJustices, Presidents, and Senatorsaffirms its status as a classic in the field of judicial politics. Providing historical context for the timely question of new appointments to the Supreme Court, Abraham offers a sophisticated and richly detailed analysis of the process of federal judicial selection and the political and legal factors that influence nomination and confirmation of judicial candidates. (Nancy Maveety, Tulane University)No book has done more to illuminate the history and the politics of appointments to the U.S. Supreme Court than Henry J. Abraham'sJustices, Presidents, and Senators.Every page reveals Abraham's in-depth knowledge of how the major players and their goals have combined with the institutional constraints of an evolving selection system to determine the composition of the Court. It is replete with the kind of detail that one rarely finds in a single volume, all presented in Abraham's brilliant prose. The book is an indispensable reference —- and a pleasure to read! (Kevin T. McGuire, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)