As the 2025-26 term of the U.S. Supreme Court comes to a close, observers not only ponder the substantive decisions but also reflect on the less serious pursuit of children’s literature penned by members of the court. The recent spotlight falls on Justice Neil Gorsuch’s Heroes of 1776, co-authored with his former law clerk, Janie Nitze, in celebration of the nation’s 250th founding anniversary.
Justice Gorsuch is not alone in this literary endeavor. Justice Sonia Sotomayor has authored several children’s books, while Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson has published a young-adult version of her memoir Lovely One. The trail was originally blazed by Justice Sandra Day O’Connor over twenty years ago with Chico.
While some suggest that justices might be building personal brands by writing books, it raises questions about their impartiality. Gorsuch’s appearances in partisan media outlets, such as Fox News, have prompted discussion about whether this impacts the perception of the court as a nonpartisan institution, highlighted in a Bloomberg Law article.
Justice Gorsuch’s Heroes of 1776 is recognized for its aesthetic appeal and sophisticated writing. It’s a narrative deeply in line with his originalist principles, celebrating themes of liberty, limited government, and popular sovereignty. Alongside these themes, Gorsuch acknowledges the limitations of the principles championed by the founders, touching upon social issues like slavery and women’s rights. Gorsuch’s compassion, often questioned due to his judicial decisions, is evident in the way he portrays the sacrifices made for independence. More about these thematic elements and Gorsuch’s approaches can be found in this Economist article discussing the notion of brand-building among justices.
On the other hand, Justice Sotomayor’s Just Ask!, a children’s book published in 2019, reflects her commitment to diversity and inclusion. Her book tackles themes of diversity and understanding, aligning closely with her judicial perspective, particularly seen in her dissent in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, where she emphasized the enrichment of the legal system through diverse perspectives.
These literary endeavors by Gorsuch and Sotomayor reflect their distinct backgrounds and ideological leanings. Gorsuch’s nod to the founding principles and Sotomayor’s advocacy for diversity are not mutually exclusive; rather, they complement one another. Their works invite the next generation to uphold the torch of national ideals and navigate a world enriched with diverse perspectives, as noted in the original article.