The Chief Justices

by Daniel A. Cotter

Since the beginning of the Supreme Court of the United States in 1789,seventeen men have held the Chief Justice position. The First three held the position for a total of eleven years, and the next two (Marshall and Taney) held the Chief Justice position for the next sixty-three years (the two longest chiefs in our history). This book seeks to examine the position of Chief Justice more closely,to describe the position's origins and duties, and explore the court under each of the seventeen chiefs. Exploration includes the background and careers of the chiefs before becoming Chief Justice, discusses the cultural times and put their rise and tenure in our nation's context, while discussing some of the key associate justices who sat with each of the seventeen. Each chapter also focuses on some key decisions of the Chief Justice's courts. Finally, the book discusses the politicization of the Supreme Court and where the court might be headed.

476 pages, Paperback

Published April 19, 2019

Reviews

[Janice Lombardo]

Excellent !

[Jeff Jordan]

A very good quick read. With this knowledge, a reader can select additional reading and biographies which might allow for a deeper understanding of these judicial leaders. It was exactly what I was looking for when I found this book to read. I was fully prepared to give this five stars because it is that good of a general introduction to the chiefs. However, the number of errors in sentence structure or facts keep me from a top rating. For example, in Appendix c, Chief Justice Taney’s court didn’t decide Plessy, and I think it was intended to be Dred Scott. Another was a reference to Lincoln appointing Salmon Chase in 1874 rather than 1864. Since Lincoln was not alive to make that appointment in 1874, a quick check would have shown this to be the case. Just a simple final review would have been good before publication.

[Marcia F.]

Excellent book about the lives and times of the US Supreme Court Chief Justices. Written by a lawyer but very understandable to those of us with no legal background. Great read!

[Matthew Mason]

A very informative read, but countless typos and mistakes proscribes a higher rating