The Vinson Court: Justices, Rulings, and Legacy

(Hardback)

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Spanning the years from 1946 until 1953, the Vinson Court covered the era of McCarthyism and the Cold War, and the outspoken justices Felix Frankfurter and Hugo Black helped shape the legacy of the Vinson court. Mix the Cold War, the Korean conflict, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, and labor unrest with some of the hottest heads to ever serve on the Supreme Court. This fiery combination sets the tone for the seven years that Fred Vinson reigned as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The Vinson Court summons students and legal professionals to understand the impact and tensions of Fred Vinson's term as Chief Justice from 1946-53. Court scholar Michal R. Belknap explores McCarthyism, the Cold War, racial segregation, and capital punishment from the Supreme Court's view. These controversies shaped the most important decision on presidential powers, restrictions on political expression, and a nasty conflict over the Rosenbergs. Significant rulings are reviewed, and the 11 justices on the Vinson Court including Felix Frankfurter and Hugo Black are introduced. Clashes were common between some of the Supreme Court's strongest personalities, and these are highlighted throughout the text. The Court's legacy completes this powerful study of recent constitutional law.

Reviews

"The book is obviously of benefit to any who study or teach the court system and Supreme Court decision-making. This is a well written book that manages the often difficult task of explaining not only the philosophies of the justices but also the sentiment of the times." - The Law and Politics Book Review "It is highly recommended to any high school, academic, and public libraries." - American Reference Books Annual

Author Bio

Michal R. Belknap is professor of law and chair of the JD/PhD Dual-Degree Program in History at California Western School of Law, San Diego, CA.