The Oath

A sequel to Toobin's popular and informative THE NINE: Inside The Secret World of the Supreme Court, this book covers the tumultuous years of John Roberts's tenure as Chief Justice, from the botched presidential oath in January 2009 to the controversial ruling on the Affordable Care Act in June 2012. Although clearly presented and full of great material, this account is less revealing than the earlier work. This is reporting from the field during a lull in the action. Robertson Dean's soothing baritone presents both anecdotes and legal analyses with clarity and spirit. However, his mispronunciation of the name of the well-known Koch brothers seems surprising. As Supreme Court opinions grow more fragmented and more abstruse, Toobin's readable analysis serves a more and more essential purpose. F.C. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine