51 imperfect solutions : states and the making of American constitutional law

Resource Information

The work 51 imperfect solutions : states and the making of American constitutional law represents a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in Biddle Law Library - University of Pennsylvania Law School. This resource is a combination of several types including: Work, Language Material, Books.

Label

51 imperfect solutions : states and the making of American constitutional law

Title remainder

states and the making of American constitutional law

Statement of responsibility

Jeffrey S. Sutton

Title variation

Fifty-one imperfect solutions

Creator

• Sutton, Jeffrey S., (Jeffrey Stuart), 1960-
• Sutton, Jeffrey S., (Jeffrey Stuart), 1960-

Author

• Sutton, Jeffrey S., (Jeffrey Stuart), 1960-
• Sutton, Jeffrey S., (Jeffrey Stuart), 1960-

Subject

• Constitutional law -- United States -- States
• Constitutional law -- United States -- States
• Constitutional law -- U.S. states
• United States

Language

eng

Summary

"When we think of constitutional law, we invariably think of the United States Supreme Court and the federal court system. Yet much of our constitutional law is not made at the federal level. In 51 Imperfect Solutions, U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Jeffrey S. Sutton argues that American Constitutional Law should account for the role of the state courts and state constitutions, together with the federal courts and the federal constitution, in protecting individual liberties. The book tells four stories that arise in four different areas of constitutional law: equal protection; criminal procedure; privacy; and free speech and free exercise of religion. Traditional accounts of these bedrock debates about the relationship of the individual to the state focus on decisions of the United States Supreme Court. But these explanations tell just part of the story. The book corrects this omission by looking at each issue-and some others as well-through the lens of many constitutions, not one constitution; of many courts, not one court; and of all American judges, not federal or state judges. Taken together, the stories reveal a remarkably complex, nuanced, ever-changing federalist system, one that ought to make lawyers and litigants pause before reflexively assuming that the United States Supreme Court alone has all of the answers to the most vexing constitutional questions. If there is a central conviction of the book, it's that an underappreciation of state constitutional law has hurt state and federal law and has undermined the appropriate balance between state and federal courts in protecting individual liberty. In trying to correct this imbalance, the book also offers several ideas for reform." -- Publisher's website

Cataloging source

DLC

Index

index present

Literary form

non fiction

Nature of contents

bibliography