Judges on Judging

Judges on Judging: Views from the Bench, 5th Edition, is an edited collection by David M. O'Brien that gathers off-the-bench speeches and writings from U.S. Supreme Court justices alongside lower federal and state court judges. The volume highlights how jurists articulate their legal philosophies, decision making, and views on the American legal system.

The selections examine judicial review, everyday court operations, competing approaches to constitutional interpretation, and the relationships that define judicial federalism. Jurists explain how trial, appellate, and state courts carry out their constitutional responsibilities.

Revised introductory essays provide historical and thematic context for the primary writings. Faculty use the text as a course supplement in upper-division U.S. Supreme Court and Judicial Process classes to prompt student debate.