Opening Statements

Supreme Fiction: 10 novels to get your mind off the Supreme Court nomination standoff

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At the U.S. Supreme Court, a single vote can alter the outcome of the country’s most hot-button disputes—abortion, affirmative action, campaign finance, gun control and immigration, to name a few. So it’s no surprise that within minutes of the announcement of Justice Antonin Scalia’s death, members of Congress began drawing battle lines about the next nominee. Conspiracy theories flashed across the internet. And with President Barack Obama’s nomination of Judge Merrick Garland, the battle rages on.

The Supreme Court is back in the spotlight. It’s not the first time, and it won’t be the last. If you’re interested in the high court but want an escape from the pundits and political theater of the coming months, several novels have explored the mysteries of 1 First St. Here are 10 notables.

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