The book considers judges, lawyers, and litigants, as well as the variables at play in judicial decision making. In this Tenth Edition, the authors examine the recent Supreme Court rulings on same-sex marriage and health care subsidies, the effect of three women justices on the Court’s patterns of decision, and the policy-making role of state tribunals. Original data on the decision-making behaviour of the Obama trial judges—which are unavailable anywhere else—ensure this text’s position as a standard bearer in the field.

New to This Edition

• Comprehensive analysis of court dynamics, including the impact of three women on the U.S. Supreme Court; Chief Justice John G. Roberts’ leadership on the Supreme Court; the new Attorney General of the United States, Loretta Lynch; the voting patterns of Democrats and Republicans on the trial court bench; and the decisional patterns of the Obama appointees.


• New coverage of current topics:




• Gay and lesbian rights, including analysis of Obergefell v. Hodges


• The Hobby Lobby case and judicial lobbying


• The trial of the Boston Marathon bomber


• The legality of the use of drones at home and abroad


• The legal implications of disclosures by Edward Snowden via WikiLeaks


• The Supreme Court decisions on the Affordable Care Act


• The legal ramifications of the use of the Confederate battle flag by government entities


• Issues of immigration and deportations, including the so-called Dreamers