"Supreme Conflict"

Interesting book review by John McGinnis on Jan Crawford Greenberg's examination of the US Supreme Court. McGinnis in particular praises Greenberg's evenhandedness, which has apparently been lacking in past examinations by others. At Opinion Journal via RCP.

"Rather than celebrate a few "enlightened" jurists doing battle with right-wing ideologues--in the manner of so many court reporters--Ms. Greenburg conveys the entire range of the court's opinions fair-mindedly, even treating conservative jurisprudence with respect."

Greenberg provides some interesting insight into the relationships on the court, maintaining that it is Justice Thomas more often influencing Justice Scalia than the otherway around as commonly assumed, but that he has had a negative influence on former Justice O'Connor, who found his willingness to revisit "settled" issues with an originalist viewpoint unsettling. It is these an understanding of these relationships that has had a major impact on the recent appointments of Justice Roberts and Alito, who are described as more collegial, and thus more able to influence other justices.

Very interesting, I may have to look this book up.