The views of leading justices and judges on the judicial process, the function of judging and the role of the courts, particularly the Supreme Court, are presented in this text. What judges say remains important for understanding the role of courts in American politics. Since off-the-bench commentaries provide insight into the governmental system, public policy and political principles, this collection of essays aims to further illuminate the American judicial process. There has been much debate over off-the-bench commentaries and some judges have been outspoken in their criticism of other political branches over such matters as the contemporary process of federal judicial selection, while others have attacked the more conservative directions taken in the 1990s by the Rehnquist court. This book intends to contribute to the on-going debate over off-the-bench commentaries. The topics addressed by justices and judges run from rather rare comments about specific decisions, to more frequent observations about the operation of the judiciary and the administration of justice.