Battles on the Bench

Choice Outstanding TitleFelix Frankfurters blustery depiction of debate within the Supreme Court suggests that combat sometimes supersedes collegiality in those hallowed halls. In fact, as Phillip Cooper shows, conflict is an inescapable fact of life in the Marble Temple.Cooper peels back the calm, quiet public image of our judicial royalty to reveal their family feuds and squabbles. He shows that, whether motivated by deeply felt principle or by petty and vindictive impulses, these disputes dramatically shape the courts decision-making process, the justices relations with one another, and the publics perception of the court.Filled with wonderful vignettes and telling anecdotes, Battles on the Bench illuminates the courts legendary and little-known clashes from John Marshall to Ruth Ginsberg and helps us understand why they fight, how they fight, and why their fights matter. In the process, it reveals a long tradition of strategic flattery, cajolery, name-calling, threats, subterfuge, and sermonizingall in an effort to win over or run over fellow justices.Conflict in such high-stakes circumstances is hardly unexpected. But some of the court behavior is: Fred Vinson going after Frankfurter with a clenched fist and shouting that no son of a bitch can ever say that to me!; Frankfurters dismissal of Justice Reeds intellect as largely vegetable; James McReynolds undisguised anti-semitism toward Louis Brandeis; Antonin Scalias harsh attacks on Sandra Day OConnor; and William Rehnquists sarcastic recital of a nursery rhyme and the Star-Spangled Banner before his startled brethren.Cooper, however, makes clear that to a surprising degree these justices do find ways to work together. As Earl Warren noted, life on the Court is like a marriage-one cant tolerate it if its one battle after another. Appointed for life and completely independent, these nine scorpions in a bottle are nevertheless compelled to furl their stingers from time to timefor no justice can prevail without the support of at least four others. Indeed, one of the toughest questions Cooper tries to answer is why they dont fight more often.A rich treasure trove mined from the vast resources of judicial biography, Coopers engaging study will be especially appealing to students and general readers with limited knowledge of the court's inner workings.