Written by former law clerks, legal scholars, biographers, historians, and
political scientists, the essays in In Chambers tell the fascinating story of
clerking at the Supreme Court. In addition to reflecting the personal experiences of the law clerks
with their justices, the essays reveal how clerks are chosen, what tasks are assigned to them, and
how the institution of clerking has evolved over time, from the first clerks in the late 1800s to
the clerks of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Chief Justice William Rehnquist.
In Chambers offers a variety of perspectives on the unique experience of Supreme
Court clerks. Former law clerks--including Alan M. Dershowitz, Charles A. Reich, and J. Harvie
Wilkinson III--write about their own clerkships, painting vivid and detailed pictures of their
relationships with the justices, while other authors write about the various clerkships for a single
justice, putting a justice's practice into a broader context. The book also includes essays about
the first African American and first woman to hold clerkships. Sharing their insights, anecdotes,
and experiences in a clear, accessible style, the contributors provide readers with a rare glimpse
into the inner workings of the Supreme Court.