In Review: The Nine

Sandra's Court

In 2007, Jeffery Toobin released his intriguing and mesmerizing look at the current Supreme Court. The book, entitled The Nine, offers a keen and fresh (though significantly left) view our nations most honored and mysterious institutions. The medieval robes, strict ritual, and complete secrecy of the Court has captured the attention of the American public for so long, precisely because we know so little about it. If this book accomplishes anything, it illustrates the fine tuned working of this time honored institution and highlights some of the largest personalities to assemble from behind the red curtain. Jeffrey Toobin, while ignoring his obvious bias, provides an in depth look at the Rehnquist Court, and its dominate figure, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, while providing insight into the future of this esteemed establishment.



The book opens by highlighting the lives and beginnings of "the nine" Supreme Court Justices: Rehnquist, O'Connor, Bader Ginsberg, Stevens, Kennedy, Souter, Thomas, Scalia, and Breyer. Each of these enigmatic and symbolic leaders has an inspiring story filled with victories as well as tragic losses that endear them to the reader. The book begins with the end of the heavily left leaning Burger Court and the birth of the conservative legal ideology under The Federalist Society. It then follows each of the members until finally all are seated in front of the red curtain, the last being Justice Breyer. These nine Justices were the longest cohesive serving group since the creation of the nine judge court. These nine people served together for a decade and became a legal family, as well as created some of the most important decisions in recent history.

If Toobin constructed a main character, it would have to be Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. He practically oozes over her (rightly so), providing rich details into the most intimate decisions she made while on the bench. He delves into her power as the swing vote and practically suggests that she may have been the single most powerful Supreme Court Justice in history, as well as the most powerful woman in US history. He reveals her philosophies on such cases as the Casey abortion case as well as the Bush v. Gore case which decided the 2000 presidential election. Yet not all of the book is dense legal matters, he goes on to provide refreshing insight into the mind of Mrs. O'Connor, revealing that the word "unattractive" is her word for the up most contempt for something, as well as touching moments with her beloved husband.


He treats most of the Justices fairly giving each their own face time with two notable exceptions: Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Clarence Thomas. With Bader Ginsberg he describes her as an outsider who never really felt connected to anyone besides Rehnquist and O'Connor. Yet the book doe snothing to allow the reader to better get to know her, she is always shrugged off by her more boisterous, or prioritized counterparts. The issue with Clarence Thomas seems to be ideological. Toobin seems to genuinely like Thomas as a person, but makes it abundantly clear he dislikes him as a judge. Indeed most of the passages are spent trying to convince the audience he is an unimportant, or secondary figure on the court. I would just like to point out that this book makes anyone other than Sandra Day O'Connor a secondary figure.

The book is well written and artfully constructed, allowing the reader flow from case to case, ranging from abortion to gay rights with ease. Toobin has a very authoritative writing style and commands the readers attention throughout the book. (Even finals couldn't keep me away for long.) If you missed this exciting read I would suggest you pick it up and learn something about our nations most secretive branch. The In Review rating for Jeffery Toobin's 2007 book The Nine is 4.5 out of 5 stars.


Later,
Cody 

(Photo: Courtesy of Getty Images)