We hope you didn't spend your Fourth of July sifting tea leaves to find out who will be the next Supreme Court nominee. (We did, kind of.) We'll learn on Monday who it will be, though an early leak would not be unheard of. Still, the Trump White House did, recall, keep Neil Gorsuch's name from leaking out. Meantime, we're still pondering the impact of Justice Kennedy's departure, and we take a look at his record on business cases. Plus: Unrelated to nominations and confirmations, check out what books Chief Justice Roberts is reading this summer. Hint: “War and Peace” is not on the list. Thanks for reading Supreme Court Brief! Contact us at [email protected] and [email protected]. |

Kennedy's Mixed Business Legacy

Anthony Kennedy Mayer Brown Lauren Goldman in favor of South Dakota's law pro-business stance State Farm v. Campbell Wyeth v. Levine, follow-on pre-emption case nuanced point of view Massachusetts v. EPA VIEW THE FULL CHART: here

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What John Roberts Is Reading This Summer

J. Harvie Wilkinson III John Roberts Jr. Here are three books Roberts said he's looking forward to reading:

  • Why Bob Dylan Matters: This book by Harvard University professor Richard Thomas was a Christmas gift, said Roberts, who cited Dylan in a 2010 dissent. “I think it sounds like it's going to be very good.” Informed about Roberts's pick, Thomas exclaimed, “Very cool! I hope he enjoys it. Judges don't come off so well in some of Dylan's songs, 'The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll,' 'Seven Curses,' 'Percy's Song,' “Hurricane.” But I don't deal with those in the book, so all should be fine.”
  • William Howard Taft: Roberts said he has heard that Jeffrey Rosen's biography of Taft “is good but it's light. It's not a thick tome. And I think it's quickly paced enough that you're not going to get bogged down in it.” Told that Roberts flagged his book, Rosen said, “I'm thrilled and honored … Taft loved being chief justice more than being president, and it's wonderful that our current chief is a fan of one of his greatest predecessors.”
  • When Your Child is Sick: Roberts said, “Your child doesn't have to be sick to read” this book by Joanna Breyer, a psychologist who works primarily with pediatric cancer survivors and also is married to Justice Stephen Breyer. It offers useful advice to parents, Roberts said, and “I've started in on that and I think it's going to be a great book to finish.” Informed of Roberts's comments, Joanna Breyer said, “Very nice of him and much appreciated.”
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ICYMI: Nomination Runup & More

James Bopp Jr. has made a private appeal Brett Kavanaugh Anthony Kennedy have begun building a coalition Amy Coney Barrett has a long career in the law Warren Postman has joined the Washington office Keller Lenkner John Roberts Jr. recently offered a new definition have hit the hardest Aimee Brown Alex Kazam Clayton Kozinski Conrad Scott