Abstract

Each justice has a unique personality, and it is a theme of this book that the justice's idiosyncratic background and temperament contributes to his or her effectiveness on the Court. “Effectiveness” can refer to many things: the quality of his or her votes, the lasting importance of the justice's written opinions, the ability of the justice to be a collegial member of the Court, or simply how the person adjusts to the challenges of a high-pressure job. This chapter presents an analysis of six justices who served during the last half of the 20th century; these six have been chosen because they reflect different personalities and styles brought to judicial decision-making.