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The Supreme Court Past, Present and Future

The Supreme Court Past, Present and Future

The United States Supreme Court has been an active focus of politicians, news media, and concerned citizens in recent months. The scrutiny of the Supreme Court Justices erupted when Chief Justice Sandra Day O’Connor retired from her position on the Supreme Court. Debate about who should replace her on the Supreme Court filled daily talk shows, political arenas, and dinner tables. President George W. Bush nominated John G. Roberts and the process of his confirmation is in the works.

Recently another Supreme Court position opened as Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist passed away. President George W. Bush will need to appoint another candidate for confirmation. Therefore, the composition of the Supreme Court Justices will be an intense topic of debate for many months to come. Why not become an informed citizen and improve your knowledge about the United States Supreme Court?

Perhaps you already listen to news talk radio in your car on the way to work. Try popping in an audio book instead. Go head to head with the news talk radio hosts when you learn more about the political system. For instance, let's say you are interested in learning more about soon-to-be retired justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Try checking out her audio title "The Majesty of the Law: Reflections of a Supreme Court Justice". This title will help to give you greater insight into this remarkable lady.

To acquire a more thorough background on the United States Supreme Court there are a couple of courses that you'll likely enjoy listening to. The Teaching Company has a great course called "The History of the Supreme Court" by Peter Irons. A similar title from the Barnes & Noble Portable Professor series is "Shaping Justice". These courses cover some of the landmark cases in our Supreme Court's history and allow you to hear more details of controversial rulings like abortion and free speech.

Do you watch “Meet the Press” with host Tim Russert? In April of 2005 he had the opportunity to interview Chief Justices Stephen Breyer, Sandra Day O’Connor, and Antonin Scalia and the audio version is available here. Hear their thoughts and experiences as Supreme Court Justices and how the interpretation of the Constitution is integral to their roles.

And there are even a couple of Supreme Court-related podcasts you can try listening to. Check out "The Oyez Supreme Court Podcast" by Jerry Goldman. This is a bi-weekly discussion of Supreme Court cases from the past and present and insight into future Supreme Court cases is included. Another podcast to try is Evan Schaeffer's "Legal Underground Podcast". It's not entirely devoted to the Supreme Court but there are some very relevant episodes. These are great supplements to the audio books listed earlier and to news talk radio.

Plunge into the debate by understanding the Supreme Court as well as the Chief Justice nomination process. It's an incredibly important part of our political process and now, thanks to these audio programs, is easier to learn about than ever before.

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About The Author: Jillian Gregory writes for LearnOutLoud.com, an online portal for educational and self-development audio and video material which can be found at http://www.learnoutloud.com.

Titles on this Topic

The History of the Supreme Court
The History of the Supreme Court
by Peter Irons

This course takes a historical look at the people who bring cases before the Supreme Court and the justices who decide what the Constitution means in each dispute.
The Law of the Land: A History of the Supreme Court
The Law of the Land: A History of the Supreme Court
by Kermit Hall

The Judiciary in general and the Supreme Court of the United States in particular represent the republic’s most unusual and least understood branch of government. Unlike the elected executive and legislative branches, the justices of the Supreme Court are appointed and serve during good behavior.
The Majesty of the Law
The Majesty of the Law
by Sandra Day O'Connor

Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor explores the law, her life as a Justice...

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