John Marshall Harlan: The Last Whig Justice

by Loren P. Beth

Overview

Although he ranks as one of the most prominent Supreme Court Justice of his or any other period, this is the first major biographical treatment of John Marshall Harlan. This fine biography is also an important contribution to constitutional history. Historians, political scientists, and legal scholars will come from its pages with renewed appreciation for one of our judicial giants.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780813188843
Publisher:	University Press of Kentucky
Publication date:	12/14/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	328
File size:	3 MB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Loren P. Beth is professor emeritus of political science at the University of Georgia and author of The Development of the American Constitution, 1877-1917.

Table of Contents

Kentucky Childhood, 1833-1854
Kentucky Lawyer-Politician, 1855-1860
Kentucky Unionist, 1861
Union Soldier, 1861-1863
Into the Political Wilderness, 1868-1867
Kentucky Republican, 1868-1875
Kingmaker, 1876
The Fruits of Success, 1877
Political Reward, 1877
Associate Justice, 1877-1887
Associate Justice, 1887-1897
Associate Justice, 1897-1911
Interstate Commerce
Substantive Due Process
Criminal Procedure in the States
Civil Rights
The Income Tax
The Insular Cases
Other Issues
Man, Politician, Judge

Editorial Reviews

John Marshall Harlan (1833-1911), an associate justice of the Supreme Court, is remembered for his liberal dissents on a conservative court. Political science professor at the University of Georgia, Beth has written a well-researched study of Harlan's life with the emphasis on his career. Covered are Harlan's years in Kentucky as a lawyer and politician who began as a Whig, switched parties several times and finally wound up as a Republican Party organizer whose political savvy earned him a Supreme Court seat during the Hayes Administration. Although he fought on the Union side during the Civil War, Harlan was no abolitionist. He owned slaves and opposed the Emancipation Proclamation. Once on the court, however, his views changed dramatically. He dissented in civil rights cases that eroded the rights of blacks to equal protection and supported the rights of defendants to due process. An academic, richly detailed biography of an important jurist. Illustrations not seen by PW. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

The first full biography of Harlan (1833-1911) who, during his 33 years on the US Supreme Court, became known as The Great Dissenter for his championing of national over state power, civil rights, and the powers of congress. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

"A well-researched study of Harlan's life with the emphasis on his career... a richly detailed biography on an important jurist." — Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

A well-researched study of Harlan's life with the emphasis on his career... a richly detailed biography on an important jurist.
— Publishers Weekly

Publishers Weekly