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Contempt: How the Right is Wronging American Justice



cover_big.jpgCatherine Crier was on the Tim Russert Show last night, talking about her new book, Contempt: How the Right is Wronging American Justice. No histrionics, no name-calling, no "sky is falling" demagoguery. Just thorough research, substantive opinions, and insightful views about what the future holds. Among her observations:

  • The Burger Court of the early 1980s was considered "conservative" at the time, with Burger and several of the justices having been appointed by Republican presidents.
  • That same court is now considered quite liberal.
  • The conservatives have waged a carefully planned, highly successful, long-term plan to shape the court system, beginning in the 1970s. The first fruits of this plan emerged in 1994 with Newt Gingrich and the Contract with America.
  • Arguments over strict vs. liberal interpretation of the Constitution are silly. The Founders wrote very specifically in some areas, very generally in others. Clearly, the broad areas were done that way for a reason.
  • Judicial Review wasn't well understood 200 years ago. It still isn't. We keep working through it a little at a time.
  • Today conservatives are expanding further, beginning to look at state courts and supporting the campaigns of elected judges who have conservative views.
  • The Democrats, aka liberals, have been unable to mount any substantive counter offensive. They are disorganized, factionalized, and unable to stay on point and on message.
  • There is no indication the balance of power will shift in the foreseeable future.

I've seen Crier on the news, but never on the other side of the interview table. She was excellent - one of the most informative, rational, and balanced viewpoints I've heard on the changes we're seeing in the judicial system. This book has been added to my wish list.

Note to MSN: You're in the web search dark ages. I tried to dig up more info on this interview (I didn't see the whole thing.) I started with google, but it took me (relatively speaking) forever to find a link to Russert's show. When I did I couldn't find anything substantial on MSN's site. I couldn't get the schedule for yesterday. A search for Catherine Crier got no hits. As far as I could find, there were no transcripts, no archives, no nothing. Very poor.