Explore this curated list of books about judges and find your next read. From books about fictional judges, thrillers about judges, and biographies and memoirs about judges, you’ll find recommendations for reading a book about judges here.

The Heather Blazing
by Colm Tóibín
IN A NUTSHELL. A judge in Ireland reflects on his life
SHORT & SIMPLE. Fictional book about a judge in Ireland reflecting on a feeling of emotional disconnection from his life and his retreat into his career
GO FOR THIS BOOK IF…you want to read a reflective fictional book about a judge.
The Heather Blazing is a beautifully written fictional tale of an Irish judge who feels emotionally detached from his life and relationships as he reflects on his childhood, romances, and his relationship with his children.
fiction
Justice on the Brink: The Death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Rise of Amy Coney Barrett, and Twelve Months That Transformed the Supreme Court
by Linda Greenhouse
IN A NUTSHELL. Retelling of a tumultuous time period for the modern U.S. Supreme Court
SHORT & SIMPLE. How the U.S. Supreme Court changed in the wake of death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
GO FOR THIS BOOK IF…you’re interested in reading a book about the modern U.S. Supreme Court from a liberal perspective.
New York Times journalist and Yale law professor Linda Greenhouse tells the story of how a Trump appointment changed the U.S. Supreme Court following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
nonfiction + government & politics
Scalia Speaks: Reflections on Law, Faith, and Life Well Lived
by Antonin Scalia
IN A NUTSHELL. Collection of speeches delivered by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia
SHORT & SIMPLE. Collected speeches of conservative Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia on the law and life
GO FOR THIS BOOK IF…you a want to read a book about a conservative Supreme Court Judge.
Scalia Speaks is a collection of speeches on a variety of topics delivered by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. The forward to this book is written by Scalia’s longtime friend, liberal Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
nonfiction + government & politics
The Whistler
by John Grisham
IN A NUTSHELL. Investigation of a corrupt judge
SHORT & SIMPLE. Dangerous thriller story about a judge accused of colluding with the mafia
GO FOR THIS BOOK IF…you want to read a thriller fiction book about a judge.
This New York Times bestseller from John Grisham follows an investigator looking into allegations that a Florida judge is colluding with mafia who are using a casino as a front. The Whistler is book one in a two-book series with Grisham’s The Judge’s List.
fiction + mystery
Lovely One: A Memoir
by Ketanji Brown Jackson
IN A NUTSHELL. Memoir of the first Black woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court
SHORT & SIMPLE. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s memoir
GO FOR THIS BOOK IF…you want to read about the life story of a modern U.S. Supreme Court justice.
Lovely One: A Memoir recounts the life story of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court. This memoir recounts the Judge’s personal life, her time attending Harvard Law, and her career path from federal public defender to U.S. Supreme Court Justice.
nonfiction + biographies & memoirs + government & politics