An excellent book for classrooms or research. Well-organized, current, and relevant, and includes the actual text (edited for brevity/clarity) of the decisions of the Supreme Court, and in most cases also includes dissenting opinions. Very balanced, no obvious agenda one way or the other. Presents cases on a variety of issues relevant to students: freedom of speech, dress codes, discrimination, privacy, locker searches, etc.

Can't speak to how it compares to previous editions (I can't track down the second edition) but it does include references to things that happened as recently as late 2007. Not the most engaging book I've read (or skimmed), but an important book to have around for government classes. ( )