About the Author

Joseph Goldstein is Sterling Professor of Law at Yale University Law School, and is the author and coauthor of a number of books on the law, including The Government of a British Trade Union, Beyond the Best Interests of the Child, and Criminal Law, Theory, and Process.

Reviews

"Goldstein brilliantly expounds the Supreme Court's failure to discharge a major obligation--making the law of the Constitution understandable--and points the way to a cure. This book deserves a wide audience in addition to the nine persons in need of his message."--Judge Robert Bork
"A powerful call for clarity and candor in the writing of judicial opinions....His message is far-reaching."--Alan Dershowitz, The Boston Herald
"Very few books offer as high a return on as small an investment of time....Well worth reading."--ABA Journal
"This is a thoughtfully and beautifully written book about language and the law. It concerns the clarity or lack of clarity of the opinions of the Supreme Court of the United States....Goldstein is wise and bold in his diagnosis and in his prescription. His solution is what mathematicians call 'elegant.'"--Appellate Practice Journal
"The Intelligible Constitution...is persuasive, fascinating, and excellent!"--Roy M. Mersky, University of Texas at Austin
"Goldstein brilliantly expounds the Supreme Court's failure to discharge a major obligation--making the law of the Constitution understandable--and points the way to a cure. This book deserves a wide audience in addition to the nine persons in need of his message."--Judge Robert Bork
"A powerful call for clarity and candor in the writing of judicial opinions....His message is far-reaching."--Alan Dershowitz, The Boston Herald
"Very few books offer as high a return on as small an investment of time....Well worth reading."--ABA Journal
"This is a thoughtfully and beautifully written book about language and the law. It concerns the clarity or lack of clarity of the opinions of the Supreme Court of the United States....Goldstein is wise and bold in his diagnosis and in his prescription. His solution is what mathematicians call 'elegant.'"--Appellate Practice Journal
"The Intelligible Constitution...is persuasive, fascinating, and excellent!"--Roy M. Mersky, University of Texas at Austin
"You brightened [a] weekend for me. I allowed myself the pleasure of reading The Intelligible Constitution....I can earnestly hope that the Nine can and will be persuaded to adopt your idea of a final-phase conference....It would be wonderful if they coud be brought to face the job and face each other in doing it as you recommend. All of us should be touting this splendid idea."--Marvin E. Frankel, Former Federal Judge
"In The Intelligible Constitution, one of our great teachers teaches greatly once again. I only pray hope the intended audience pays attention."--John Hart Ely, Stanford University
"While constitutional scholars debate the esoterica of interpretive theory, Professor Goldstein has addressed the heart of the matter--that the Constitution belongs not to a legal elite, but to all of us. The Intelligible Constitution is a wonderful book, by one of our greatest law teachers."--H. Jefferson Powell, Duke University
"A bold and brave appeal to restore the Constitution to the people. Professor Goldstein calls on the Supreme Court for comprehensibility, clarity, candor, and integrity in its opinions--and shows how these qualities have been lacking. By insisting that the Court must not merely decide but must also explain and communicate, Goldstein would enable the people to exercise their sovereign role once more."--Charles A. Reich, Yale Law School