Over Ruled

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER America has always been a nation of laws. But today our laws have grown so vast and reach so deeply into our lives that it’s worth asking: In our reverence for the rule of law, have we gone too far? Over just the last few decades, laws in this nation have exploded in number; they are increasingly complex; and the punishments they carry are increasingly severe. Some of these laws come from our elected representatives, but many now come from agency officials in the sprawling regulatory state, largely insulated from democratic accountability. In Over Ruled, Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch and Janie Nitze explore these developments and the human toll so much law can carry for ordinary Americans. At its heart, this is a book of stories—about fishermen in Florida, families in Montana, monks in Louisiana, a young Internet entrepreneur in Massachusetts, and many others who have found themselves trapped unex­pectedly in a legal maze. Some law is essential to our lives and our freedoms. But too much law can place those very same freedoms at risk and even undermine respect for law itself. And often those who feel the cost most acutely are those without wealth, power, and status. Deeply researched and superbly written, Over Ruled is one of the most significant books of the year. It is a must-read for every citizen concerned about government overreach and the erosion of our constitutional system, and its insights will be key to the preservation of our individual liberties for generations to come. How did our legal system become a maze that traps the innocent, and what is the true cost to our freedom? The Human Toll of Too Much Law: Gripping, real-life stories of everyday Americans—from a Florida fisherman to Louisiana monks—caught in a labyrinth of confusing regulations and facing devastating consequences. The Fourth Branch of Government: An inside look at how unelected officials in the administrative state now wield immense power, creating thousands of rules that carry the force of law with little democratic accountability. Erosion of Constitutional Principles: A clear-eyed analysis of how the explosion of laws threatens the separation of powers and the fundamental promise of equal justice for all. An Unlikely Path to Reform: Grounded in history and the author’s unique perspective from the nation’s highest court, this book reveals how rediscovering America’s founding principles can help preserve our freedoms for the future.