Review of the Roberts Court

AP Government Assignment

Tyler Verrill

L. Vonderchek

"The Legacy of the Roberts Court" was written by Lee Epstein and Eric A. Posner and

published in the Harvard Law Review in 2015. The authors examined the decisions of the

Roberts court and argued that the court's legacy is characterized by conservatism and the

expansion of corporate power. There wasn't much besides the analyzing of the courts history of

decisions in cases within this Article, but I thought it was worth reading.

Epstein and Posner argued that the Roberts court has been one of the most conservative

courts in recent history. The court has consistently favored conservative policies such as limiting

voting rights and overturning campaign finance regulations. The authors also noted that the court

has been more likely to side with corporations over individuals, highlighting the landmark

decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, one of the cases that we see in our

yellow packets.

The authors further argued that the Roberts court has been successful in expanding

corporate power. The court's decisions in cases such as Wal-Mart v. Dukes and AT&T Mobility

v. Concepcion have made it more difficult for individuals to bring class-action lawsuits against

corporations. Additionally, the court's decision in Shelby County v. Holder effectively ended the

preclearance requirement for states with a history of voting discrimination. Epstein and Posner

concluded that the legacy of the Roberts court will be characterized by its conservative policies

and its expansion of corporate power. They argued that the court's decisions will have significant

implications for American society for years to come.

 In conclusion, the article "The Legacy of the Roberts Court" provides a comprehensive

analysis of the decisions of the Roberts court and its impact on American society. It offers a

critical perspective on the court's legacy and argues that its decisions have been conservative and

pro-corporate. The article is an important resource for those interested in understanding the

legacy of the Roberts court and its implications for the future of American law.

Work Cited

Epstein, Lee, et al. “"The Legacy of the Roberts Court."” LAW REVIEW,

https://gking.harvard.edu/files/crisis.pdf. Accessed 13 March 2023.