'… the strength of [this] book lies in its recognition that judicial independence is ultimately as much about politicians as judges. Real world politics are at the heart of Clark's book, together with his recognition that many congressional practices, even those that lack any formal legal effect, hold profound significance for lawyers and judges. By drawing attention to what we might term 'the politics of judicial independence', this book is an important contribution to the regrettably still too thin literature on judicial independence.' Graham Gee, Public Law
This book investigates the causes and consequences of congressional attacks on the US Supreme Court, arguing that the extent of public support for judicial independence constitutes the practical limit of judicial independence. First, the book presents a historical overview of Court-curbing proposals in Congress. Then, building on interviews with Supreme Court justices, members of Congress, and judicial and legislative staffers, the book theorizes that congressional attacks are driven by public discontent with the Court. From this theoretical model, predictions are derived about the decision to engage in Court-curbing and judicial responsiveness to Court-curbing activity in Congress. The Limits of Judicial Independence draws on illustrative archival evidence, systematic analysis of an original dataset of Court-curbing proposals introduced in Congress from 1877 onward and judicial decisions.
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1. Introduction; 2. A political history of Court-curbing; 3. Conditional self-restraint; 4. Court-curbing and the electoral connection; 5. Public support and judicial review; 6. Ideological implications of Court-curbing; 7. The limits of judicial independence.
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This book examines the relationship among the US Supreme Court, Congress, and the public.
Product details
ISBN
9780521194884
Published
2010-11-22
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Weight
650 gr
Height
229 mm
Width
152 mm
Thickness
21 mm
Age
U, 05
Language
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Innbundet
Number of pages
356
Author