Embattled Constitution2012

"Presents the fourth collection of the classic James Madison lectures delivered at the NYU School of Law. Offering thoughtful examinations of an array of topics on civil liberties and other constitutional issues, the book features lectures by a distinguished group of federal judges, including Stephen Breyer of the U.S. Supreme Court. The result is a fascinating look into the minds of the judges who interpret, apply, and give meaning to our 'embattled Constitution.' In these insightful and incisive essays, the authors bring to bear decades of experience to explore wide-ranging issues. Are today's public schools segregated? To what extent can the federal courts apply the Bill of Rights without legislative guidance? And what are the criteria for the highest standards of judging and constitutional inerpretation? The authors also discuss how and why the Constitution came to be embattled, shining a spotlight on the current polarization in both the Supreme Court and the American body politic and offering careful and informed analysis of how to bridge these divides"--Jacket.