Justice and empathy toward a constitutional ideal

Includes bibliographical references (pages 185-202) and index.

Introduction / by Frank Iacobucci -- A living truth -- Judicial power to command -- All that is solid -- This word "reason" -- The healthiest possible soul -- The democratic path -- Enslaving criminals -- Respecting same-sex relations -- Abortion : private and public considerations -- Race relations : between emancipation and subjugation -- Ordering moral deliberations.

"An impassioned argument for the role of courts as a moral and social agent for change and protecting the vulnerable...The Supreme Court long considered its highest mission to be the protection of individual liberty from intrusion by government, but the court shifted its focus to social and economic equality. Constitutional scholar Robert A. Burt explores this shift and its implications, especially for the legal protection of the vulnerable. Crucial to Burt's perspective is his unconventional view of the role of judges--not simply to decide disputes, but to promote a respectful dialogue leading to a genuine understanding between parties." -- Publisher's website.