The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court

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Bestselling author Jeffrey Toobin takes you into the chambers of the most important—and secret—legal body in our country, the Supreme Court, and reveals the complex dynamic among the nine people who decide the law of the land.

Just in time for the 2008 presidential election—where the future of the Court will be at stake—Toobin reveals an institution at a moment of transition, when decades of conservative disgust with the Court have finally produced a conservative majority, with major changes in store on such issues as abortion, civil rights, presidential power, and church-state relations.

Based on exclusive interviews with justices themselves, The Nine tells the story of the Court through personalities—from Anthony Kennedy's overwhelming sense of self-importance to Clarence Thomas's well-tended grievances against his critics to David Souter's odd nineteenth-century lifestyle. There is also, for the first time, the full behind-the-scenes story of Bush v. Gore—and Sandra Day O'Connor's fateful breach with George W. Bush, the president she helped place in office.

The Nine is the book bestselling author Jeffrey Toobin was born to write. A CNN senior legal analyst and New Yorker staff writer, no one is more superbly qualified to profile the nine justices.

What Customers Say About The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court:

I've always been curious about the Supreme Court and this book explains, in a very readable way, the Court processes and, captivating insight into the personalities of the Justices. Once I started reading, I couldn't put this book down.

This is neither a polemic nor a political excoriation of the Supreme Court. The reader is given a behind the scenes look at how the Court reaches its decisions, forming alliances, development of Majority, Minority decisions and the influences affecting them. Its decisions tend to confirm the prevailing mores of the nation rather than set new directions.

Many of the critical cases addressed by the court are reviewed and the interplay between the justices on each case is revealed. The author revels the relationships between Justices and offers insight as to their apparent thought process and their individual growth or lack there of into the job.The background of each justice is reviewed with an emphasis upon the influences forming the personal aspects each has experienced. Rather, the reader is offered insight into the behind the scenes working of the Justices.

The mainstay of the discussion delves into the recent past court members, their individual judicial styles, philosophy and decisions. Beginning with a summary of the court, its history, structure and the past impact it has exerted upon the legal, political and social aspects of the nation. The basic premise is that the SCOTUS historically reflected the national mindset.

The book concludes with a reporting and analysis of the selection process leading to the appointment of Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito.

Gee, any chance Toobin might be a liberal with a rather dull ax to grind. Following are some typical gems (one could list hundreds) from this book to give the flavor of his supposed "journalism": Leftist justices "exert a powerful and lasting influence over American law" but conservative justices wage a cynical "war of ideas." Breyer "smiles with gregarious good nature" while Scalia "smirks." Souter is "modest," "ascetic," and "self-sufficient" while Thomas is "isolated" and "marginalized." Thomas "endorses barbarism" (really). Souter is a "fierce advocate" with a "sophisticated understanding" while Scalia has a "messianic sense of himself." "To the conservatives, nothing mattered - not consistency, not fairness" but liberal justices are praised as "results-oriented." Liberals are always "principled"; conservatives always "ideological." Stevens is "typically astute" and his decisions show "wisdom and selflessness" in contrast to Scalia's "juvenile petulance" and "weary and angry dissent."Readers who view the above as empirical facts should like this book. All others beware.

This book takes you inside the US Supreme Court, introduces you to the members, makes them human, and give a great insight as to its operation--all the while making you turn page after page. It gives you a feel for the great importance of the US President's opportunity to appoint members to promote their adjenda, frequently with much surprising results. It should be required reading for anyone the least interested in the working of the Court and other aspects of recent politics.It's a book you can't put down.

I read this book awhile back while it was in hardcover. I was interested in reading the book, because I had seen Jeffrey Toobin on TV - and I liked hearing what he had to say and how he said it.After reading the book and I can tell you it is a great book unmasking the Supreme Court. While the book is valuable by showing all of it's individuals and their particular indiosyncrasy's - for instance after taking off his robe, Justice Thomas is a serious RV camper - it is also illustrates the Supreme court's increasing political role and the election of George W. Bush in 2000.The books is rare in that it is not only an interesting read, but the author writes in a profound but easy to read style.This was the exact premise I bought the book for - Toobin - has great insights and he is easy to understand.