Life, Law & Liberty

By: Anthony Kennedy, Anthony Kennedy - introduction

Narrated by: Stephen Graybill

Throughout his thirty-year tenure on the US Supreme Court, Justice Anthony M. Kennedy authored landmark opinions on some of the most contested issues in American society, including abortion, gay rights, and free speech. At the ideological center of a divided Court, Kennedy sided with justice, fairness, and the liberty our Constitution guarantees.

Often defying expectations, Anthony Kennedy’s pursuit of equal justice helped him define the law of the land for a generation. His pivotal vote in closely watched 5-4 decisions led Time magazine to call him “The Decider.”

The fifteenth-longest-serving Supreme Court Justice in US history, Kennedy crafted headline-making opinions that legalized gay marriage, protected political speech, abolished the death penalty for minors, and, in a nuanced ruling, upheld a woman’s right to choose—decisions that were both celebrated and criticized across political lines.

How did this devout Catholic, Reagan appointee to the Court, and conservative in both temperament and politics end up authoring some of the most consequential liberal decisions of our time?

To understand Anthony Kennedy is to realize that, for him, judging is independent of politics, preferences, and religious beliefs. It is about a fundamental conviction that neutral principles must drive the decision and an unyielding commitment to the rule of law. Sometimes called a “swing vote,” the term misunderstands Kennedy’s approach. In his own words, “The cases swing, I don’t.”

Life, Law, and Liberty serves as a reflection on the role of a judge and the life story—filled with personal heartbreak and incredible accomplishment—of a precocious boy from Sacramento, California, who became the man Chief Justice John Roberts describes as “a special combination of legal acumen, collegiality, and kindness.”

The last Justice to be confirmed to the Court unanimously (97–0) by the Senate, Anthony Kennedy serves as a role model for our fractious times, an example of civility, decency, and ethics, and a deeply principled guardian of liberty.

A Must Read

Justice Kennedy, a federal judge for 50+ yrs, was frequently a swing vote on the Court. His memoir displays a keen thinker who would serve exceptionally as a model for many current judges as we navigate today’s turmoil.

A Memoir of a Long and Consequential Career

I fell into this audible book from a recommendation based on my perceived interests and free credits from Amazon. Only the Forward is read by the author. The rest is read by an AI voice, which was only apparent on a few occasions of slightly variant pronunciations. That said, hearing of his personal family history was interesting. Having lived in California, many of his early memories serve as a glimpse of state history.

His experience with the law and court system is influenced by personal history as well. It is true that it’s “who you know” that makes a difference. But Justice Kennedy demonstrates it’s also “what you know”, as well as who you are. Cases that caused him to reflect on personal values and consider the consequences of legal precedents provided insight.

I recommend the audible book.

Touching memoir about a true public servant.

The author shares his life with authenticity and an unexpected level of vulnerability. There is advice for future generations and what we can do to help our society and government sustain equal justice and the rule of law.