Five to Four

This book differs from anything you have ever read about the nation and its Supreme Court. The book is not written from or in promotion of any political or ideological position. The author categorically denies having an agenda other than to allow you to enlighten yourself as to why the nation is the way it is today, and the role the Supreme Court has played. Reported opinions based on cases actually heard and ruled upon by the high Court are used as the underlying substance of this work, the exact words of that Court. It is the words of the Court, not the author's, upon which you are to focus and form your own opinions. Dr. Johnson writes this book on a foundation and from a perspective of a practicing attorney and professor of law for over forty years while pondering this writing for the past ten, ultimately culminating in this confrontational product dealing with powerful institutions and bringing to your attention the matters discussed herein for your thought. As a professor, the author's motivation in writing this book is to offer you an opportunity to look into the arcane world of the law, the methodology of the Supreme Court, or more particularly, to present Supreme Court opinions which range from being inconsistent to incoherent and illogical to disingenuous for your review. This book is written for any member of the public, regardless of educational background. You are invited to join the author on this journey.
About the Author: Clark Cumings Johnson, J.D., Ph.D., LL.D. is Professor Emeritus at Michigan State University College of Law where he has served in various professorships and as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs since joining the faculty in 1973. He presently carries a full-time teaching load and has among other subjects taught courses in commercial transactions, contracts, secured transactions, corporations, bankruptcy, property, future interests, mortgages, insurance, equity, suretyship, psychiatry and the law, and medical legal problems. Dr. Johnson received his B.A. in history from the University of Michigan, and his J.D. (cum laude) and Ph.D. in psychology from Wayne State University. He was awarded an LL.D. from the Michigan State University Detroit College of Law in 2002. He served twenty years in the U.S. Navy, both active and reserve, in peacetime and during war, as enlisted and a commissioned officer serving as Executive Officer and Commanding Officer, acting, of the U.S.S. Amherst (PCER-853) prior to his release from active duty. He is a former Assistant Attorney General for the state of Michigan with litigation experience in the state and federal courts in both civil and criminal cases, and thereafter served as a legal consultant for several years to the Michigan Department of Attorney General. Following his doctoral clinical practicum (clinicum) in psychology at Lafayette Clinic, he worked for Midwestern Educational Resources Center as a clinical psychologist. Professor Johnson was an associate and later partner in the law firm of Schmidt, Nahas, Coburn & Johnson exclusively involved in litigation. He is the founder of and former advisor to the nationally recognized Journal of Medicine and Law at Michigan State University College of Law and is published in the areas of commercial law, as well as medicine and the law.