Scalia Dissents: Writings of the Supreme Court's Wittiest, Most Outspoken Justice [Hardcover]

Antonin Scalia (Author), Kevin A. Ring (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 7, 2004

Attorney Ring has assembled Justice Antonin Scalia's most scathing, most poignant, and most accessible opinions to date. Specific rulings and speeches are explained as Ring invites readers into the judicial world.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Brilliant. Colorful. Visionary. Tenacious. Witty. Since his appointment to the Supreme Court in 1986, Associate Justice Antonin Scalia has been described as all of these things and for good reason. He is perhaps the best-known justice on the Supreme Court today and certainly the most controversial. Yet most Americans have probably not read even one of his several hundred Supreme Court opinions. In Scalia Dissents, Kevin Ring, former counsel to the U.S. Senate’s Constitution Subcommittee, lets Justice Scalia speak for himself. This volume—the first of its kind— showcases the quotable justice’s take on many of today’s most contentious constitutional debates, including: * Affirmative Action "In the eyes of government, we are just one race here. It is American." * Religious Freedom "A priest has as much liberty to proselytize as a patriot." * Judicial Activism "No government official is ‘tempted’ to place restraints on his own freedom of action, which is why Lord Acton did not say ‘Power tends to purify.’" * Abortion "It thus appears the mansion of constitutionalized abortion law, constructed overnight in Roe v. Wade, must be disassembled doorjamb by doorjamb…"

Scalia Dissents contains over a dozen of the justice’s most compelling and controversial opinions. Ring also provides helpful background on the opinions and a primer on Justice Scalia’s judicial philosophy.

Scalia Dissents is the perfect book for readers who love scintillating prose and penetrating insight on the most important constitutional issues of our time.

About the Author

Kevin A. Ring was a former counsel to then-Senator John Ashcroft and the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee's Constitution, Federalism, and Property Rights Subcommittee. He graduated with honors from the Columbus School of Law at Catholic University of America. He is currently a partner at Greenberg Traurig, LLP in Washington, D.C. and resides in Chevy Chase, Maryland with his wife and daughter.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 338 pages
• Publisher: Regnery Publishing; First Edition edition (October 7, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0895260530
• ISBN-13: 978-0895260536
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 1.2 x 9.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #91,903 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #42 in Books > Law > Rules & Procedures > Courts

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 36 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read, Very Informative October 14, 2004

By David Cirasuolo

Format:Hardcover

Despite your political affiliation, this book captures the essence of Scalia's opinion and biting wit. While the prospect of reading a collection of legal rulings seems like a sure fire way to defeat insomnia, Scalia Dissents surprises by enlightening the reader on the issue and how Scalia interprets each with flair. Ring's choice of Scalia's opinions is excellent and his summary of the issues at hand makes the text accessible to all. Big thumbs up!

45 of 53 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Scalia at his best October 26, 2004

By Interested Reader

Format:Hardcover

This is an excellent book that makes a very difficult subject, the United States Constitution and an even more controversial Supreme Court Justice, Scalia, easy to read and understand. Ring has taken selected issues and presented them at three levels: The first level, the issue itself i.e. Abortion or Free Speech etc. and is his own words describes the issue. At the second level he has taken the specific case that relates to the issues and explains, in plain easy to understand language, the essence of the particular case. Finally he lets Scalia speak for himself with the actual text of Scalia's opinions written for the specific decision. You do not have to be a Constitutional Scholar to gain an understanding of the issues, the Supreme Court cases or Scalia's decisions. Actually Ring makes it fun to read about the law of the land. A must read for students of the U.S. Constitution.

27 of 34 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars buy it, read it, pass it around - October 25, 2004

By SupremeLawGirl

Format:Hardcover

The beauty of this book is that you dont need to know, or care, about the inner workings of the legal system to find this book both highly amusing and informative. Scalia's opinions have some of the most subtle and biting witticisms since (maybe) Shakespeare. Supreme Court rulings have an important affect on our daily lives, but youd be hard pressed to find anyone who can quote a passage or a court case in what the mainstream might consider a social setting. I'd bet youd find this author there though, and be pretty entertained throwing some of Scalia's quips around. Highly highly recommended