First Principles

Scott Douglas Gerber, Ph.D., J.D., is author of To Secure These Rights: The Declaration of Independence and Constitutional Interpretation and editor of Seriatim: The Supreme Court before John Marshall, both available from New York University Press. He teaches at Ohio Northern University College of Law.

• I Politics 1 Judging Thomas 2 The "Natural Law Thing" II Law 3 Civil Rights 4 Civil Liberties 5 Federalism III Law and Politics 6 Conclusion

"Gerber's book is a breath of fresh air, because it treats Justice Thomas and his work with respect and intellectual curiosity." (Ideas on Liberty) "...the most comprehensive and incisive account of Thomas' political philosophy to date." (First Things) "...An excellent and balanced review of the justice's first years on the Court." (National Review) "The virtue of Scott Gerber's new study ... is that it puts in better perspective Thomas's whole career." (The Weekly Standard) "Gerber is scrupulously honest in dissecting Thomas' opinions, their legal background, and their place in the Court's jurisprudence, and he demonstrates his own excellent capabilities as an objective, fair, thoughtful, and thorough scholar." (The Federal Lawyer) "Elevates the debate and thereby does a great service to Justice Thomas, the Court, and the country" (Green Bag)