Supreme Power: 7 Pivotal Supreme Court Decisions That Had a Major Impact on America

Bestselling author Ted Stewart explains how the Supreme Court and its nine appointed members now stand at a crucial point in their power to hand down momentous and far-ranging decisions. Today's Court affects every major area of American life, from health care to civil rights, from abortion to marriage. This fascinating book reveals the complex history of the Court as told through seven pivotal decisions. These cases originally seemed narrow in scope, but they vastly expanded the interpretation of law. Such is the power of judicial review to make sweeping, often unforeseen, changes in American society by revising the meaning of our Constitution. Each chapter presents an easy-to-read brief on the case and explains what the decisions mean and how the Court ruling, often a 5-4 split, had long-term impact. For example, in Lochner v. New York, a widely accepted turn-of-the-twentieth--century New York State law limited excessive overtime for bakery workers. That law was overturned by the Court based on the due process clause of the Constitution. The very same precedents, Stewart points out, were used by the Court seventy years later and expanded to a new right to privacy in Roe v. Wade, making abortion legal in the nation. Filled with insight, commentary, and compelling stories of ordinary citizens coming to the judiciary for remedy for the problems of their day, Supreme Power illustrates the magnitude of the Court's power to interpret the Constitution and decide the law of the land.

About the Author :
Ted Stewart was appointed as a United States District Court Judge in 1999 by President Bill Clinton. Prior to that, he served as chief of staff to Governor Michael O. Leavitt, as executive director of the State Department of Natural Resources, as a member and chairman of the Public Service Commission, and as chief of staff to Congressman Jim Hansen. He has been a visiting professor at two state universities, teaching courses in law and public policy. He is the New York Times bestselling author of The Miracle of Freedom: 7 Tipping Points That Saved the World.

Review :
"Stewart summarizes and analyzes seven Supreme Court cases and their historic effect on U.S. history. Provides insightful comments on how these cases ended up in the Supreme Court and how their decisions were ultimately made. Citing a variety of legal and political sources, Stewart offers historical contexts to these landmark cases. He describes the incredible power of the judicial branch in deciding, defining, and transforming the current state of affairs. Readers interested in U.S. law, politics, and history will find this insightful book to be helpful in understanding today's sociopolitical climate, particularly the importance of the Supreme Court decisions that occur in June of each year."-- "Booklist" (7/1/2017 12:00:00 AM) "Offering informed and informative insights, commentaries, and compelling stories of ordinary citizens coming to the judiciary for remedy for the problems of their day, Supreme Power illustrates the magnitude of the Court's power to interpret the Constitution and decide the law of the land. Exceptionally well written and impressively presented, Supreme Power is especially recommended for both community and academic library Judicial Studies collections."-- "Midwest Book Review" (12/18/2017 12:00:00 AM)