A Republic, If You Can Keep It

In this collection of essays, speeches, and judicial opinions, Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch outlines his commitment to originalism and textualism as the foundational methods for interpreting the Constitution and federal statutes. He argues that the separation of powers is the primary safeguard of American liberty, rather than a mere administrative technicality. Gorsuch details the specific dangers posed by the expansion of the administrative state and the delegation of legislative authority to unelected bureaucrats. He emphasizes the importance of civic education and the preservation of a fair, independent judiciary that adheres strictly to the written law regardless of personal policy preferences or public pressure.

The book is written for citizens, law students, and legal practitioners interested in the intellectual framework of conservative jurisprudence. Readers gain an understanding of how a literalist approach to legal texts functions in practice and why Gorsuch views the judge’s role as restricted to discovery rather than creation. Those who study the American founding or modern legal theory find a clear explanation of how the structural constraints of the three branches of government are intended to protect individual rights and ensure democratic accountability through the legislative process.