Defending Rights: Law, Labor Politics, and the State in California, 1890-1925 Book

Another dip into the ocean of biographies has left me refreshed, particularly as I veer onto a path of strong women. I had this audiobook by Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor sitting on my iPod and thought it would fit nicely into this string of biographical pieces. Little did I know that it was less a story about her than about the revered Supreme Court of the United States. Still, as the Court's first woman justice, I felt compelled to read on and hear her take on the highest court in America. Filled with a great deal of history and wonderful asides related to a number of key justices, Justice O'Connor educates and entertains the reader throughout this piece, while offering her own perspectives on the third branch of the American political system. A superior piece for any reader looking to have a better understanding of the court system and some of the backstories related to its most important decisions.

Justice O'Connor seeks to educate readers, many of whom know little about the day to day activities of the Supreme Court, discussion some of the nuances of choosing cases to come before the Court, hearings, and the decision-making process in chambers. From there, she offers a key primer on the selection of justices and some of the historical controversies that have befallen presidents whose nominees turned out to represent values that differed greatly from their past legal work. Without a firm understanding of the US Constitution (particularly in its historic context), justices would not be able to offer up well-grounded opinions, leaving Justice O'Connor to provide a firm narrative about this document and its accompanying Bill of Rights before delving into the interpretation of both, which she argues is the foundation of the court system; legal interpretations that rely on precedents to formulate the Rule of Law. Touching on a number of justices who shaped her legal and judicial career, Justice O'Connor provides the reader with some personal reflections that are useful for many who know nothing about these men, save for their mention in the history books. In the latter portion of the book, Justice O'Connor turns to the role of women, both in America and the legal realm, which is (obviously) of personal interest to her and of whom she is a significant pioneer. Exploring women's suffrage and working in the legal profession, Justice O'Connor illustrates the slow acceptance of equality and changes to the norm, which permitted equal footing amongst the genders in the eyes of the law. As she reaches the climax of the book, Justice O'Connor offers some personal opinions on the use of juries, allowing the law to grow organically and work in conjunction with laws of other countries, and the importance of non-elected federal judges, all of which support democracy by protecting the minority view. The reader may sail through this and gather some cogent arguments on their way to a stronger understanding of the legal system and potentially fostering added respect for it along the way.

While this ended up being a different book than I expected, I did find some strong biographical aspects to it. Justice O'Connor offered a thorough and comprehensive view of the legal system in America and the intricacies of the Supreme Court. With key civic lessons embedded into the narrative, Justice O'Connor educates the reader about many aspects of the finely-tuned machine that is the judicial branch. She peppers her commentary with personal anecdotes that help to pull the reader in and keeps the attention throughout. Of particular interest in the time spent discussion and analyzing the women's suffrage movement and push towards inclusion in the legal profession, based on merit and not quotas. As the first woman appointed to the United States Supreme Court, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor held a prominent role in history, though she did not rest on her laurels, choosing instead to shape legal queries alongside her eight colleagues. This book helps promote the importance of the Court, the legal system, and the role of women in the political and judicial branches of America. Its effectiveness exudes from every page and resonates long after the reader finishes this easily understood narrative.

Kudos, Justice O'Connor for such a wonderful primer. I feel even better educated and did take away many tidbit of new information. Your time on the Court was monumental and I hope to find a book that reflects your entire life's journey soon enough.

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