Oral argument and amicus curiae
By: Matthew M.C. Roberts
Series: Law & society : recent scholarship
Publisher: LFB Scholarly Pub.
Published: 2012
Place of publication: El Paso
Language: eng
Number of pages: 170
ISBN-13: 9781593324667
Subjects: Public interest law; Political questions and judicial power; United States. Supreme Court; United States; Amici curiae; Forensic orations; Decision making
Description: "Members of the Supreme Court are supposed to base decisions on the law, but often their choices are better explained by political ideology and party loyalty. Roberts sheds light on this problem by looking at a part of the Court's life that has never been systematically studied. Most cases feature extra briefs written by third parties known as amici curiae. He examines the rare occasions on which the Court allows these extra groups to participate not just by filing briefs but by appearing before the Court during oral arguments. By tracing how these groups influence the justices' behavior, Roberts presents a strong case that the Court is driven by more than politics"--Provided by publisher.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.