Affirmative action, bias, racism and a sister in-law I really admire

I like to think I have a lot in common with my sister in-law Joan Biskupic.

She is an oldest daughter. I am an oldest daughter.

She earned a degree in journalism from Marquette University. I earned a degree in journalism from Marquette University.

She received the Dirksen Award for distinguished reporting, appears regularly on network and PBS news shows, has written for the Washington Post, USA Today and Reuters and has authored three highly acclaimed biographies. I…am tall.

See there, we’re practically twins.

So, it was with extreme excitement and familial pride that I dug into Joan’s latest book. “Breaking In – The Rise of Sonia Sotomayor and the Politics of Justice.“

With 20 years of experience covering the Supreme Court, Joan always offers fascinating insight into the justices she covers, an insider’s tour of an imposing institution nearly 225 years old.

She also honors an increasingly rare commitment to fact confirmation and unbiased reporting, as evidenced by the 423 footnotes she includes in Breaking In. The woman cites her sources.

Thanks to this dedication to fact-based reporting, Joan skillfully navigates sensitive topics like racism and affirmative action and the role each played in the rise of Sotomayor.

Joan, who also holds a juris doctorate from Georgetown University, traces the thought-provoking case of Ricci v. DeStefano and the effect it had on Sotomayor’s career. She offers a rare behind-the-scenes look into the machinations behind judicial opinions and dissents, and presents for discussion essential questions regarding racism in America, who and what defines it.

Despite its weighty subject matter, the book reads quickly and showcases arguably the liveliest justice in the history of SCOTUS in an engaging and entertaining manner.

I think everyone should read this book, both for its historical impact and for the healthy discussions it will inspire.