John Roberts will not save us — but we might just able to save ourselves

John Roberts Will Not Save Us — But We Might Just Be Able to Save Ourselves

Constitutional law scholar, lecturer, and podcast host Leah Litman applies her critical eye to the Supreme Court.

Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices attending Donald Trump’s address to Congress
Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Elena Kagan, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Justice Amy Coney Barrett, and retired Justice Anthony Kennedy attend Donald Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress. Photo by Getty Images.

Leah Litman’s Analysis of the Supreme Court

In her sharp and compelling new book Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes, Leah Litman presents a narrative that reads almost like a crime thriller. Unlike typical mysteries, the guilty party is known from the very beginning.

Litman is a constitutional law professor at the University of Michigan and co-hosts the popular weekly podcast Strict Scrutiny, which dissects Supreme Court decisions with both humor and precision.

“Litman lambastes the hypocrisy of the Republican-majority’s skepticism on abortion cases presented by Jewish plaintiffs who argue that their religious faith compels them to perform, provide, or access abortion care. As she notes, this skepticism is a decidedly unusual response from a court that is usually keen on expanding, not retracting, religious exemptions from law.”

Taking Action Against Judicial Lawlessness

Despite the disheartening picture Litman paints of the Supreme Court operating on partisan grievances and fringe legal theories, she ends her book with practical steps that Americans can take to resist this state of lawlessness.

About the Author

Author’s Summary: Leah Litman’s critique reveals a Supreme Court guided by partisan bias but emphasizes hope and action for Americans to reclaim the rule of law.

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The Forward The Forward — 2025-11-04

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