Becoming Justice Blackmun: Harry Blackmuns Supreme Court Journey

ISBN: 080507791X

Author: Greenhouse, Linda

Condition: New

A Pulitzer Prize-winning correspondent with unprecedented access to the inner workings of the U.S. Supreme Court chronicles the personal transformation of a legendary justiceFrom 1970 to 1994, Justice Harry A. Blackmun (1908-1999) wrote numerous landmark Supreme Court decisions, including Roe v. Wade, and participated in the most contentious debates of his era-all behind closed doors. In Becoming Justice Blackmun, Linda Greenhouse of The New York Times draws back the curtain on Americas most private branch of government and reveals the backstage story of the Supreme Court through the eyes and writings of this extraordinary justice.Greenhouse was the first print reporter to have access to Blackmuns extensive archive and his private and public papers. From this trove she has crafted a compelling narrative of Blackmuns years on the Court, showing how he never lost sight of the human beings behind the legal cases and how he was not afraid to question his own views on such controversial issues as abortion, the death penalty, and sex discrimination. Greenhouse also tells the story of how Blackmuns lifelong friendship with Chief Justice Warren E. Burger withered in the crucible of life on the nations highest court, revealing how political differences became personal, even for the countrys most respected jurists.Becoming Justice Blackmun, written by Americas preeminent Supreme Court reporter, offers a rare and wonderfully vivid portrait of the nations highest court, including insights into many of the current justices. It is a must-read for everyone who cares about the Court and its impact on our lives.