Landmark cases, cspans special series produced with the constitution center, explore and the human story and constitutional dramas behind 12 Supreme Court decisions. Number 759, Petitioner Versus arizona. Number 18, roe against wade. Quite often in many of our famous decisions were quite unpopular. Lets go through a few cases that illustrate are very dramatically and visually what it means to live in a society of 310 million different people who helped stick together because they believed in the rule of law. Welcome to landmark cases. Our series of looking at the 12 most important cases in Supreme Courts history. We will learn more about the people in the issues behind them. Tonight, lochner v. New york, 1905. It is one of the controversial cases of the Supreme Court, and in fact the story of a baker from new york whose case gave rise to an era that defined Supreme Court cases for the next 30 years. Let me introduce you to our two guests who would tell us more about this important case
Important place, nine justices and only them meet around a table in the Conference Room. Aty discuss the cases heard oral arguments and begin the process of reaching a decision of the court. Sit at one end and it wraps around the table in order of seniority. I remember the first time i set foot in the room. It is pretty daunting the first few times. Because thats where the actual work and the Decision Making takes place. We dont have any observers in the Conference Room. Nobody can enter the room who is not a justice. No secretary, no law clerk. Not even a message bearer. I have to be professional and accurate and fair and each of my colleagues feel the same way. So there is a little tension and excitement in the room. We love it. Were designed to do that. The job is no good if you cant argue. I initiate the discussion for an argued case. I will say, this case is about this and the arguments are so and so. And i think we should reverse or affirm and heres why. Sometimes in an easy case
Host we get to talk about the Supreme Court history for an hour. I want to start by understanding the court today. The way our court is structured and how it has evolved, how does the chief justice in this era wield authority . What tools do they have . Elizabeth the answer to that question is, in this era, as always, the chief justice, first and foremost, is the head and steward of one of our three ranches of government. I think there are some unique spects about that job in the sense that the court is not a political branch. It was deliberately designed not to be. The chief has a difficult job, because, im sure you heard this expression. The chief is chief among equals. They cannot control the other justices. They have the power to cajole, but not control. And there are some Great Stories throughout history that illustrate that very well. Host specifically, does the chief have a role in what cases are heard, and who writes the opinions . Elizabeth those are probably two of the princi
Host we get to talk about the Supreme Court history for an hour. I want to start by understanding the court today. The way our court is structured evolved, how does the chief justice in this era wield authority . What tools do they have . Elizabeth the answer to that question is in this era, as , always, the chief justice, first and foremost, is the head and steward of one of our three branches of government. I think there are some unique aspects about that job in the sense that the court is not a political branch. It was deliberately designed not to be. The chief has a difficult job, because, im sure you heard this expression. The chief is chief among equals. They cannot control the other justices. They have the power to cajole, but not control. And there are some Great Stories throughout history that illustrate that very well. Host specifically, does the chief have a role in what cases are heard, and who writes the opinions . Elizabeth those are probably two of the principal distinct
Landmark cases cspans producedistory series in cooperation with the National Constitution center, is boring that in his stories and constitutional dramas but to get Supreme Court decisions. Quite often, and many of our most famous decisions, a coupler quite unpopular. Lets go through a few cases that illustrate very dramatically and visually what society of live in a 310 million different people. They helped stick together because they believe in a rule of law. Welcome to landmark cases, our series is looking at 12 of the most important cases in the Supreme Court history, we will lend more about the people and the issues behind them. Tonight we will talk about the case of lochner v. New york. This case give rise to an error that defines this report for the next 34 years. Let me introduce you to our two guests that will tell us more about this important case and why has been important for this report and our countrys history. Brandon barnett is that Georgetown University law school. He