Out of order

From the first woman to sit on the United States Supreme Court comes this book about the history and evolution of the highest court in the land. This book sheds light on the centuries of change and upheaval that transformed the Supreme Court from its uncertain beginnings into the remarkable institution that thrives and endures today. From the early days of circuit-riding, to the changes in civil rights ushered in by Earl Warren and Thurgood Marshall, from foundational decisions such as Marbury v. Madison to modern-day cases such as Hamdi v. Rumsfeld, she weaves together stories and lessons from the history of the Court, charting turning points and pivotal moments that have helped define our nation's progress. She paints vivid pictures of Justices in history, including Oliver Wendell Holmes, Thurgood Marshall, William O. Douglas, and John Roberts. She provides a rare glimpse into the Supreme Court's inner workings: how cases are chosen for hearing; the personal relationships that exist among the Justices; and the customs and traditions, both public and private, that bind one generation of jurists to the next, from the seating arrangements at Court lunches to the fiercely competitive basketball games played in the Court building's top-floor gymnasium, the so-called "highest court in the land."