Michael Whatley

The forward by Howard Zinn foreshadows a gripping, dramatic lead into what is ahead. Peter Irons makes it clear at the outset: he believes the Constitution is a breathing document that should follow social change. The book is strongest when Irons takes a moment to reflect on the structural inequalities that Supreme Court justices have perpetuated. He adopts a “no excuses” mentality towards notable figures, such as Chief Justice John Marshall, by calling them out for their neutrality in civil rights cases that had damaging consequences for marginalized communities. Some chapters were dry (contract cases, estate and property law cases) but his sociological perspective on precedent, judicial nominations, and the country’s changing political landscape made it well worth the read.