History of the Supreme Court

By: Tim S. Huebner

Narrated by: Tim S. Huebner

Length: 10 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

What would you like to know about the Supreme Court's evolution, its immense impact, and its crucial role in democracy? Now is your chance to explore the law of the land with an acclaimed expert on the United States Constitution and the Supreme Court.

In 24 stimulating lectures, you will survey the history of the Supreme Court from its inception through the present day. Your discussion stays rooted in the historical - not the legal or political. In other words, you do not need a law or political science degree to understand how the nomination and confirmation process has changed, or how the justices have differed in their approaches to the Constitution, or why the Court's decisions matter now more than ever.

Likewise, you do not need to put your guard up when discussing controversial decisions. Instead, you will study the evolution of the Court with an eye towards understanding how it has come to play such an important role in American life. As you know, much of American ideology and history appears mired in contradiction. The Supreme Court is no exception.

Throughout the course, you will gain an appreciation for the American public's paradoxical attitudes toward the judiciary over the centuries. After examining landmark decisions and key players in the history of the Supreme Court, you will arrive at a fuller understanding of its role in both shaping and responding to larger developments across American society.

©2018 Now You Know Media Inc. (P)2018 Now You Know Media Inc.

Excellent series!

Tim Huebner does a great job of telling the fascinating history of the court, and some of its most important cases. Along the way, I gained a much better understanding of how the court came to have such an outsized influence on American life. If, like me, you are interested in the historical context behind current issues and events, you will enjoy this series.

Fascinating

This is a fascinating in depth history of the United States Supreme Court. A must read if you're interested in the history of United States jurisprudence.

Good until the end

Unfortunately, the writer’s bias comes through in the last couple of chapters. Overall this was very interesting and informative, though.

Good information, OK delivery

Prof, Huebner presents a good, interesting history of the Supreme Court. Most of the history is fairly objective and only when you get to recent history does his liberal bias express itself. He mentions that in 1992, Roe v. Wade is upheld by five justices appointed by Republican presidents, saying that precedent is important, but he talks about how Roe makes it important that the senate is discerning in approving Justices. His bias is shown by omission in talking about Garland and how the senate refuse to hold hearings without mentioning that those same Democrats (along with then-Senator Obama) so incensed about the Republicans not holding hearings for Garland, refused to give hearings for Bush's appointments at the end of his term. He also closes the Kavanaugh nomination and approval by talking about Kavanaugh's very emotional appeal and how he wrote later that, perhaps, he was too emotional. I am not sure that is the important take-away from that episode. Overall good content. You just have to make sure your bias filter is operating during the last few lectures.
One note on delivery. You can hear some vocalized pauses in the sample. He usually has many more. It can get irritating. Usually, he extends the article, "the," as in "thuuuuuh Supreme Court." Sometimes, with words and names that start with a vowel, "Ohhhhh-bama." Better than having a bunch of uhm's in his speaking, but it can still be distracting.

essential historical profile

This is a well laidout and professional presentation on the history and trends and personalities of the court.