First published 2015
Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer examines how globalization transforms the work of America's highest court. He shows how modern interconnectedness forces justices to look beyond national borders when deciding cases. The Court now regularly confronts questions about the international reach of American laws on securities fraud, antitrust violations, and copyright protections. Breyer traces this evolution starting with national security cases, where foreign considerations have always mattered, then expanding to show how shrinking global distances create new judicial challenges. He argues that American laws must work harmoniously with those of other nations to serve American interests effectively. This reality transforms justices into "constitutional diplomats" who help expand the rule of law globally. Breyer demonstrates how this shift affects every American's life, even when citizens don't directly observe these changes.
Genres: history, international-relations, non-fiction, biography-memoir, current-affairs, law, academic, american-history
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: informed-consent
Setting: America
Period: 21st-century
400 pages · Hardcover · Knopf