Since the Supreme Court’s inception in 1789, Supreme Court justices have been a prolific group, publishing volumes on the law, history, and various aspects of the American experience. As high-profile cases in the mid to late twentieth century brought the Court to the forefront of American political consciousness, justices began to publish with increased frequency and zeal. Today, it has become something of a norm for justices to publish during or after their time on the bench. The resulting works range from volumes on constitutional law and the role of the Supreme Court to works of autobiography, in which the justices recount their upbringing, delineate their careers, and, in some cases, offer retrospective analysis of key cases.

This summer, my research will examine this emerging collection of published works by Supreme Court justices. I will seek to answer the following questions: Why and when do justices publish? To what extent do justices seek to establish doctrine about constitutional interpretation and the role of the Supreme Court? To what extent do justices attempt to reshape public perceptions of the Court and, more specifically, clarify their own role in key cases? In short, my research will survey the published works of Supreme Court justices during and after their time on the bench and draw conclusions about what these works can tell us about both the Court and the esteemed individuals who have shaped its history.