Richard Rosenthal

The Supreme Court: The Last Bastion of Democracy?

The centrality of the U.S. Supreme Court in modern American life can hardly be overstated. Nearly every aspect of modern political, social, and personal life—from free speech, religious liberty, marriage rights, reproductive rights, voting rights, gun ownership, immigration rights, the death penalty, even the structure and maintenance of America’s democracy itself—ultimately winds up at the Supreme Court’s marble steps. We will examine how this came to be, and discuss whether it is how things should be. Should Americans’ most cherished rights be decided by 9 unelected judges? Is this consistent with our basic notions of representative democracy? Is the Supreme Court an essential element of American democracy that should be protected and cherished—or is it something to be feared? Get ready for lively, informative, interactive discussions, filled with historical background, juicy insider tidbits, and present-day controversies!