Few decisions in constitutional law have had as dramatic an impact on American life as Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas (1954). This collection of essays published by the Supreme Court Historical Society and CQ Press to commemorate Brown's 50th anniversary, captures the complex history and legacy of the decision that changed public education and race relations in America. Leading constitutional scholars chronicle the path of the law from Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) legitimating separate but equal in all realms of public life to Brown holding segregated schools to be inherently...

This third edition provides a single-volume reference profiling every Supreme Court justice from John Jay through Elena Kagan. An original essay on each justice paints a vivid picture of his or her individuality as shaped by family, education, pre-court career, and the times in which he or she lived.