Justice on the Brink

A Requiem for the Supreme Court

By: Linda Greenhouse

Narrated by: Beth Hicks

The gripping story of the Supreme Court’s transformation from a measured institution of law and justice into a highly politicized body dominated by a right-wing supermajority, told through the dramatic lens of its most transformative year, by the Pulitzer Prize–winning law columnist for The New York Times—with a new preface by the author

“A dazzling feat . . . meaty, often scintillating and sometimes scary . . . Greenhouse is a virtuoso of SCOTUS analysis.”—The Washington Post

In Justice on the Brink, legendary journalist Linda Greenhouse gives us unique insight into a court under stress, providing the context and brilliant analysis readers of her work in The New York Times have come to expect. In a page-turning narrative, she recounts the twelve months when the court turned its back on its legacy and traditions, abandoning any effort to stay above and separate from politics. With remarkable clarity and deep institutional knowledge, Greenhouse shows the seeds being planted for the court’s eventual overturning of Roe v. Wade, expansion of access to guns, and unprecedented elevation of religious rights in American society. Both a chronicle and a requiem, Justice on the Brink depicts the struggle for the soul of the Supreme Court, and points to the future that awaits all of us.

Critic reviews

“[Linda Greenhouse is] the dean of Supreme Court journalists.”—The New York Times Book Review

“Linda Greenhouse is a kind of Gibbon of the Supreme Court, a chronicler of such perception and such depth that it is difficult to imagine how we could understand this vital and opaque institution without her. As Americans, we are nearly overwhelmed by coverage of the presidency and of the Congress, but the court remains stubbornly elusive—except to Greenhouse. This landmark new book gives us an invaluable perspective on the Supreme Court in democracy’s hour of maximum danger.”—Jon Meacham, winner of the Pulitzer Prize

“Linda Greenhouse has written what is, hands down, the best book about the Supreme Court, its inner dynamics, and its place in the nation’s political and social life at least since Alexander Bickel’s classic, The Least Dangerous Branch, written in 1962. Choosing this pivotal moment in the flow of America’s history to open a revealing window into the history and workings of our highest court and a peek into its future and our own was a stroke of genius. Her account of the court from the death of Ruth Ginsburg to the rise of Amy Barrett moves at the pace of a thriller and teaches more about the court as an institution and the law as a discipline than any book of its length has any right to do.”—Laurence H. Tribe, Carl M. Loeb University Professor and Professor of Constitutional Law Emeritus, Harvard Law School

“Linda Greenhouse’s surpassing ability to decode the Supreme Court and consummate storytelling illuminate a truly watershed year. This is the book to read and reread for anyone wanting to understand what lies behind this pivotal time for American law and the legitimacy of American institutions.”—Martha Minow, 300th Anniversary University Professor, Harvard University, and former dean, Harvard Law School

“Linda Greenhouse, one of America’s most astute writers about the Supreme Court, has written a remarkable book: a month-by-month narrative of Amy Coney Barrett’s first year on the court that combines a riveting account of the legal arguments in pathbreaking cases―including cases involving religion, abortion, voting rights, and affirmative action―with compelling insights about how each of the nine justices resolved them. Justice on the Brink is invaluable for all citizens who want to understand the future of the court and the Constitution.”—Jeffrey Rosen, president and chief executive officer, National Constitution Center

“A revelatory study of the Supreme Court in flux.”—Publishers Weekly

Learned A Lot!

I struggled to understand because of my nieve and inadequate understanding of the Supreme Court.

Supreme Court Compromised

As an avid follower of the U.S. Supreme court rulings, I had to brace myself to read this book. It speaks to the power given to ideology over the rule of law. The assault on voting rights and women’s rights and gay rights became almost unwinnable when Amy Barret replaced the court’s most respected liberal voice. That 7 of the 9 justices are staunch Catholics from elite schools is a red flag to the court’s ability to represent we the people. The book ends with the suggestion that our highest judicial review has already fallen over the brink. Help!

A Must Read, Then A Must Act.

We need the average American to care more about what has happened to our separation of church and state in this country. At this point in time we are one decision away from being a country that prioritizes religion on all levels. We have a supreme court where the majority of the sitting justices were elected by presidents that didn't win the popular vote. We need to abolish the Electoral College and we need to have the highest court in our land being more representative of the people that live here and not the minority. #ReligionPoisonsEverything

Intriguing overview

Linda Greenhouse has clearly witnessed the present SCOTUS and recorded the beginning of a drama to affect the country. Good to see she is still reporting. Look forward to her next effort.

Left Wing Propoganda as Usual

This woman is not a journalist. Not even close. When you are so committed to one ideological position that you cannot be objective what purpose do you serve? This woman and Nina Totenberg are an embarrassment to the court and to the profession of journalism.