Ezra's Bookshelf

The Highest Law in the Land

by Jessica Pishko · 481 pages · ~8.5 hrs

Politics & GovernmentLaw & Justice

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Jessica Pishko investigates one of America's least scrutinized powerful offices: the county sheriff. There are over 3,000 sheriffs in America, locally elected and largely unaccountable, wielding immense power over policing, jails, and civil process in their jurisdictions. Pishko, an attorney and journalist, explores how the 'constitutional sheriff' movement has made this office a flashpoint in far-right politics. Constitutional sheriffs claim authority to interpret the Constitution themselves, refusing to enforce laws they deem unconstitutional. Pishko traces the movement's origins, profiles individual sheriffs, and examines the consequences of their beliefs. She shows how sheriffs have nullified gun laws, defied court orders, and operated jails with minimal oversight. The book combines investigative reporting with historical and legal analysis, revealing an institution that has evaded the scrutiny applied to municipal police departments. For readers seeking to understand the structure of American law enforcement and its vulnerabilities to extremism, this is essential reading.

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