In this acclaimed biography, Linda Greenhouse of The New York Times draws back the curtain on Americas most private branch of government, the Supreme Court. Greenhouse was the first print reporter to have access to the extensive archives of Justice Harry A. Blackmun (190899), the man behind numerous landmark Supreme Court decisions, including Roe v. Wade. Through the lens of Blackmuns private and public papers, Greenhouse crafts a compelling portrait of a man who, from 1970 to 1994, ruled on such controversial issues as abortion, the death penalty, and sex discrimination yet never lost sight of the human beings behind the legal cases. Greenhouse also paints the arc of Blackmuns lifelong friendship with Chief Justice Warren E. Burger, revealing how political differences became personal, even for two of the countrys most respected jurists. From Americas preeminent Supreme Court reporter, this is a must-read for everyone who cares about the Court and its impact on our lives.