In honor of Women's History Month, here's a look at books by or about the women who've served as Supreme Court justices.
No Supreme Court justice in living memory has generated the following that Ruth Bader Ginsburg has. She's achieved almost cult-like status among liberals and progressives, particularly the young. The apex of this may be Notorious RBG. Written by the two women responsible for the website of the same name, it chronicles the life and times of Ginsburg in a scrapbook format. In addition to an insightful biography and excerpts from her papers, it includes her late husband's favorite recipe (Ginsburg cooked her last meal in 1980.), family photos, and much of the memorabilia Ginsburg has inspired. If you like feisty women, this book is a must.
Sandra Day O'Connor has written extensively, both her own books and contributions to others. The Majesty of the Law is a history of American law and O'Connor's time on the court. While much more conservative than Ginsburg, O'Connor appreciated having a fellow woman on the bench. She also wrote a book about growing up in Arizona called Lazy B, after the name of her parents' ranch.
Elena Kagan is no shrinking violet, having convinced her Orthodox rabbi to let her have something akin to a bar mitzvah when bat mitzvahs were uncommon for any Jewish tradition. However, she has not been on the Supreme Court long enough to feel comfortable writing her own story. Elena Kagan by Viqi Wagner is directed at teens, but is a good starting point for anyone.
Sonya Sotomayor roiled the Senate with her plainspoken responses to tough questions. She was confirmed, however, and soon published her memoir, My Beloved World. She talks about growing up poor, going to Princeton (often taking refuge in the library), and first becoming a judge. Throughout, Sotomayor shows both her commitment to self-reliance and to a sense of community.
Got more books about the ladies of SCOTUS that you think we should read? How about the gentlemen? Tell us all about it in the comments.
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