At Cockle Legal Briefs, we make it our business to stay current with the latest legal commentary. Our research helps us to anticipate upcoming printing and filing events, and to stay abreast of the topics that matter to our customers. But it’s also fun to recognize issues from the pages we have printed, then see them make their mark on the national conversation. Here are six legal commentators we turn to regularly, and you should too.
Lyle Denniston at SCOTUSblog
The Dean of Supreme Court Reporters, Denniston began his career in 1948 covering the Otoe County Courthouse in Nebraska City, Nebraska (just down the road from Cockle Legal Briefs). He has covered the U.S. Supreme Court for the last 55 years. His legal commentary for SCOTUSblog illustrates his unique ability to dig deep into the detailed principles of the case, and offers up insightful, understandable analysis that brings the reader right to the heart of the questions presented. We read Denniston to gain a complete understanding of the cases before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Dahlia Lithwick at Slate
For almost 15 years, Lithwick has covered the law and the courts for Slate. Her legal commentary can be funny, angry, wry, and blunt—usually all within the same piece. Her writing shows not just a thorough understanding of the issue at hand, but also a firm grasp of the larger social context. We like reading Lithwick because we always come away thinking about the story in an unexpected way.
Andrew Cohen at The Atlantic
Cohen actually covers two beats: legal commentary and horses. But no matter the topic, his columns reveal an incisive intellect, fuelled by a compelling passion for his subjects. Cohen’s work is always topical, but he asks his reader to consider the larger issues in light of the way they affect the most vulnerable among us. Read Cohen to discover the human and the humane implications of abstract legal controversies.
Adam Liptak at the New York Times
Covering the Supreme Court for the New York Times, Liptak’s legal commentary pushes beyond the issues found within the four corners of the case, and delves into the personalities and circumstances of the Court, the justices, and the litigants. You should read Liptak to get a sense of the bigger story that spreads out and around the story of the case.
Eugene Volokh at The Volokh Conspiracy
Born in Kiev (then a part of the Soviet Union), Volokh has distinguished himself as a leading intellectual voice supporting libertarian and federalist ideals. He is a professor at the UCLA School of Law, and his writings range from academic legal work, to political commentary in major media outlets. His blog, The Volokh Conspiracy, features his work, along with posts from other scholarly authors. We read Volokh because he provides compelling legal commentary from a very specific ideological position.
Kenneth Jost at Jost On Justice
A professor at Georgetown Law, Jost’s legal commentary often reads as a scathing rebuke of the Court’s conservative majority, and a virulent critique of its recent jurisprudence. He is also a former journalist, and his writing has the balance and readability of a talented reporter. We read Jost because he offers insightful analysis from another very specific ideological position.