Wry Analysis

Death Penalty: The Movie - The Supreme Court finds its happy ending. By Dahlia Lithwick

Every once in a while, I feel a duty to be sure that others know about a writer whose unique voice brings clarity to an otherwise baffling topic. Dahlia Lithwick, who writes the "Jurisprudence" and "Supreme Court Dispatches" columns for Slate, has such a voice. She parses the details of a case before the Supreme Court, lets you know how the justices seem to feel about it, explores the complicated terrain of precedent surrounding the case, and tosses this salad of information with a dressing that's a tart mix of wry humor, insightful opinion, informed prediction, and a qood explanation of the "So what?" of the case. Only Lithwick would suggest in writing that the Court is in danger of jumping the shark if there isn't a personnel change soon. Want to read more of her work? Start here.