
Out of Order
Stories from the History of the Supreme Court
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Narrated by:
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Sandra Day O'Connor
From Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to sit on the United States Supreme Court, comes this fascinating book about the history and evolution of the highest court in the land.
Out of Order sheds light on the centuries of change and upheaval that transformed the Supreme Court from its uncertain beginnings into the remarkable institution that thrives and endures today. From the early days of circuit-riding, when justices who also served as trial judges traveled thousands of miles per year on horseback to hear cases, to the changes in civil rights ushered in by Earl Warren and Thurgood Marshall; from foundational decisions such as Marbury vs. Madison to modern-day cases such as Hamdi vs. Rumsfeld, Justice O’Connor weaves together stories and lessons from the history of the Court, charting turning points and pivotal moments that have helped define our nation’s progress.
With unparalleled insight and her unique perspective as a history-making figure, Justice O’Connor takes us on a personal exploration, painting vivid pictures of Justices in history, including Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., one of the greatest jurists of all time; Thurgood Marshall, whose understated and succinct style would come to transform oral argument; William O. Douglas, called "The Lone Ranger" because of his impassioned and frequent dissents; and John Roberts, whom Justice O’Connor considers to be the finest practitioner of oral argument she has ever witnessed in Court. We get a rare glimpse into the Supreme Court’s inner workings: how cases are chosen for hearing; the personal relationships that exist among the Justices; and the customs and traditions, both public and private, that bind one generation of jurists to the next - from the seating arrangements at Court lunches to the fiercely competitive basketball games played in the Court Building’s top-floor gymnasium, the so-called "highest court in the land".
Wise, candid, and assured, Out of Order is a rich offering of inspiring stories of one of our country’s most important institutions, from one of our country’s most respected pioneers.
©2013 Sandra Day O'Connor (P)2013 Random House AudioListeners also enjoyed...




















Critic reviews
Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
Yes because the topic was interesting and novel.I did find that it was not well edited however. There were some topics that were repeated in different parts of the book that seemed a bit out of place.
Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Sandra Day O'Connor?
YES--I love her speeches (she spoke at my law school graduation) but her voice was terrible for the narration. There were times when I heard papers rustling as she spoke.I have listened to hundreds of books and I have a rule--unless it is a memoir, you should not read your own book unless you are a comedian (Adam Carolla) or a humorist (David Sedaris). They have irritating voices but they work with the material.
Do you think Out of Order needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?
No, I think the material was adequately covered.Interesting topic, but not covered very well
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Fascinating
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I was sworn into practice before the US Supreme Court five years ago (John Roberts was Chief Justice, and Justice O’Connor had already retired) and the experience was more moving than I ever expected. The grandeur of the building was intimidating, and the courtroom seemed heavy with hundreds of years of important lawmaking.
It was hard to imagine the US Supreme Court as anything but what it is now, but Justice O’Connor’s book discusses how it started out as a group of six men, in borrowed space in New York, making few but crucial rulings that established its authority as a co-equal branch of government based on what was a radical experiment – the US Constitution. She discusses key decisions throughout its 222-year history (it first convened in 1791, 2 years after the Constitution was ratified) in a way that points out the important findings, without getting tangled in minutia that would only be of interest to lawyers and constitutional scholars.
The book has some amusing stories, and a discussion of some “larger than life” Justices – although not all of the stories are about admirable Justices. At least one was loathsome.
This isn’t a tell-all book by any means. Anyone looking for a discussion of current personalities on the Supreme Court should read or listen to Jeffrey Toobin’s, “The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court."
Justice O’Connor narrates the book herself, and sometimes, charmingly, you can hear paper rattle as she turns a page. She does sound like a law professor from time to time, which does not make for an exciting narration – but there is no one else I would have wanted to listen to reading this book.
History from and by a First among Firsts
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Love anything to do with the Supreme Court!
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I like that she personally narrates the book. It lends a great amount of authenticity. I have read numerous historical novels that touch on many of the points she makes. John Adams by David McCullough, What Kind if Nation by Simon F. Simon and Truman and 1776 by McCullough, Thomas Jefferson by Joyce Appley and Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow – all fine works. Justice O’Connor’s accounts fit nicely with overlapping accounts by these historians. Yet, she introduces new information about the court and it struggles over the centuries.
If you have an interest in the Supreme Court, history, or government; this is a very worthwhile seven hours. If you are looking for dissention or scuttlebutt, look somewhere else.
A Historical Account of the Supreme Court
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Supremely Educational!
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Where does Out of Order rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
Great storytelling by Justice O'connor. She brought to life stories about the history of the court and the court's justices that are not readily available in other histories of the court.What about Sandra Day O'Connor’s performance did you like?
She is a great reader.Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
I enjoyed the moment where she recounted the story of Justice Field. It was also interesting to hear the personal background and life stories on several of the justices.great stories about the Supreme Court
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(1) Majesty was a discussion of the law and public policy. Out of Order is an introduction to the Supreme Court as an institution, and a particularly short introduction at that. Although some of the stories are interesting and even funny, on the whole the book reads more like a high school civics course than the work of a supreme court justice.
(2) Majesty was written for an educated audience. Out of Order was written for those with little or no understanding of the legal system or the functioning of the government. Now, the cynics among you may be snickering and thinking "well that's most of the population," and considering she may be trying to reach the broadest possible audience with this book, that may be a valid observation. But just a fair warning that the two books are written for different audiences.
In Short: if you are looking for an intellectually stimulating book and you have more than a cursory understanding of the Supreme Court, this book will offer you very little. For those completely ignorant of the Judicial Branch and its inner workings, this will be a good introduction.
An Introduction for a General Audience
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One thing after another
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I got this book because I had so much enjoyed The Oath. I wanted more.
You let me down, Sandy.
You are a great pioneer for women and I have always admired you, but.. you let me down.
For a while I felt an obligation to keep plowing through it, but after a while, I just couldn't.
I'm really sorry, Sandy..... :/
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