"Melvin Urofsky's major new book looks at the role of dissent in the Supreme Court and the meaning of the Constitution through the greatest and longest lasting public-policy debate in the country's history, among members of the Supreme Court, between the Court and the other branches of government, and between the Court and the people of the United States"--Dust jacket.

Dissent and the constitutional dialogue -- From Seriatim to the opinion of the court -- From Marshall to Dred Scott -- Field, slaughterhouse, and Munn -- John Marshall Harlan : the first great dissenter -- Mis-en-scène 1 : Harlan and Holmes in Lochner v. New York -- Holmes and Brandeis dissenting -- Mis-en-scène 2 : Brandeis in Olmstead v. United States -- The return of Seriatim : causes -- The prima donnas I : personalities and issues of wartime -- Mis-en-scène 3 : Wiley Rutledge and in re Yamashita -- The prima donnas II : incorporation, criminal procedure, and free speech -- Mis-en-scène 4 : black in Betts v. Brady -- Lower federal courts, the states, and foreign tribunals -- Continuing themes : from Warren to Roberts -- Mis-en-scène 5 : Marshall, Brennan, and capital punishment -- Coda.