This fascinating collection captures the personal views of leading justices and judges on the judicial process, the function of judging, and the role of courts - particularly the Supreme Court - in our increasingly litigious society. It provides a uniquely intimate view of the judicial process, the dilemmas of deliberation and decision-making, and other matters about which court watchers and the general public usually can only speculate. No less important than the insights they offer about the operations of and the problems confronting courts, the selections make accessible contemporary justices' and judges' thinking about judicial activism and self-restraint, and the role of courts in the political process. The book contributes to the ongoing debate over off-the-bench commentaries and encourages readers to think about the qualities of judges - their temperament, character, judicial philosophies, and political views - as well as the role of courts in American politics.