Лаптоп Магазин лаптопThe Dirty Dozen, How Twelve Supreme Court Cases Radically Expanded Government and Eroded Freedom by Robert A. Levy and William Mellor; 2008; 299 pages; Sentinel, New York, NY; 978-1-59523-050-8; 8/3/09-8/6/09

The authors describe themselves as “textualist”, they believe that the constitution means what it says.  They don’t believe in a living constitution or judicial activism.

They have taken twelve cases and shown how the Supreme Courts decisions have expanded government and eroded individual freedoms.  They show how  government has allowed bureaucrats to legislate, how those who are rich or in positions of power have an unfair advantage.  They have looked at 12 cases from 1933 to now.  The cases were chosen by taking a survey of lawyers and then choosing from the top cases.  Many of these cases have caused uproars and have made bedfellows of diverse groups.  This was an interesting read and gave me a new appreciation for one of the justices.

A President can have influence well beyond the terms that he serves.  A president is able to appoint Justices to the Supreme Court who serve for the rest of their lives or they choose to retire.  A president tends to choose those who agree with their views and can influence policy well past the end of the Presidents’ term.  For example William Rehnquist was first appointed to the Supreme Court by Richard Nixon 1970 and then elevated to Chief Justice by Ronald Reagan in 1986.  So through the terms of the next six Presidents, Richard Nixon was still able to influence.  The biggest legacy a President may leave is the justices he appoints to the Supreme Court.     RRRR