Civil Rights and Liberties in the 21st Century

This up-to-date book analyzes the Supreme Court's landmark rulings on civil rights and liberties. It serves as a core text in courses on civil liberties and civil rights, or as a supplementary text in courses on constitutional law and the judiciary. The key to John Domino's approach is that understanding constitutional law is not having the righ

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This up-to-date analysis of the Supreme Court’s landmark rulings on civil rights and liberties is a discussion of the facts, legal issues, and constitutional questions surrounding those rulings. Domino’s book serves as either a core text in courses on civil liberties and civil rights, or as a supplementary text in courses on constitutional law and the judiciary. The book is written in the belief that the key to understanding constitutional law is not having the right answers but asking the right questions. It encourages students to be critical thinkers and provides a historical context so students can better understand competing social, legal, and political interests affecting the Supreme Court’s decisions today. The text also includes numerous short excerpts from some of the more influential, eloquent, and controversial Supreme Court opinions to illustrate the handiwork of the powerful legal minds who have helped to shape our society. It reminds us that "the Court" is not an abstract legal mechanism, but rather a group of human beings with divergent opinions.

New to the Fourth Edition






Up-to-date discussion of recent rulings, from the standpoint of the Court as a Cultural Tribunal, including:






freedom of expression, including hate speech and the historic Citizens United case on campaign finance




freedom of religion, including prayer during public meetings and the controversial Hobby Lobby case on corporate religious belief




social issues, including reproductive rights & abortion and the landmark Obergefell case on same-sex marriage









New section on obscenity and the First Amendment, including discussion of Internet pornography




Expanded discussion of the use of GPS and thermal scanning technology by law enforcement and issues surrounding mobile phone privacy




The nomination and confirmation politics surrounding the death of Antonin Scalia, the failed nomination of Merrick Garland, and the confirmation of Trump appointee Neil Gorsuch




Analysis and comparison of the Roberts Court to the Rehnquist, Burger, and Warren Courts, revisiting the question of counterrevolution that set the theme for previous editions