Joan Biskupic
Encyclopedia
Joan Biskupic is an American journalist, author, and lawyer who has covered the United States Supreme Court
since 1989. She has been the Legal Affairs Correspondent for USA Today
since June 2000. From 1992 to 2000, she was the Supreme Court reporter for The Washington Post
, and from 1989 to 1992 she was a legal affairs writer for Congressional Quarterly
. Biskupic was awarded the 1991 Everett McKinley Dirksen Award for Distinguished Reporting on Congress for her coverage of the Clarence Thomas hearings
for Congressional Quarterly. Prior to that, she covered government and politics for the Milwaukee Journal and the Tulsa Tribune.
Biskupic has written a number of books on the Supreme Court, including biographies of Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O'Connor
and Antonin Scalia
. She was awarded three residential fellowships at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
, in 2003, 2004 and 2008, for work on these biographies.
Biskupic is also a commentator who appears regularly on television and radio programs. She is a regular panelist on Washington Week with Gwen Ifill and has appeared on the NPR Diane Rehm Show
, the NBC Today Show; ABC’s Good Morning America
, ABC’s Nightline, and CBS’s Face the Nation
.
Biskupic received her high school diploma from Benet Academy
, a B.A.
degree in Journalism from Marquette University
, an M.A.
degree in English from the University of Oklahoma
, and a J.D.
(law) degree from Georgetown University Law Center
. She has been a member of the District of Columbia bar since 1994.
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
since 1989. She has been the Legal Affairs Correspondent for USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
since June 2000. From 1992 to 2000, she was the Supreme Court reporter for The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, and from 1989 to 1992 she was a legal affairs writer for Congressional Quarterly
Congressional Quarterly
Congressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
. Biskupic was awarded the 1991 Everett McKinley Dirksen Award for Distinguished Reporting on Congress for her coverage of the Clarence Thomas hearings
Clarence Thomas Supreme Court nomination
On July 1, 1991, President George H. W. Bush nominated Clarence Thomas for the Supreme Court of the United States to replace Thurgood Marshall, who had announced his retirement...
for Congressional Quarterly. Prior to that, she covered government and politics for the Milwaukee Journal and the Tulsa Tribune.
Biskupic has written a number of books on the Supreme Court, including biographies of Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O'Connor
Sandra Day O'Connor
Sandra Day O'Connor is an American jurist who was the first female member of the Supreme Court of the United States. She served as an Associate Justice from 1981 until her retirement from the Court in 2006. O'Connor was appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1981...
and Antonin Scalia
Antonin Scalia
Antonin Gregory Scalia is an American jurist who serves as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. As the longest-serving justice on the Court, Scalia is the Senior Associate Justice...
. She was awarded three residential fellowships at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars , located in Washington, D.C., is a United States Presidential Memorial that was established as part of the Smithsonian Institution by an act of Congress in 1968...
, in 2003, 2004 and 2008, for work on these biographies.
Biskupic is also a commentator who appears regularly on television and radio programs. She is a regular panelist on Washington Week with Gwen Ifill and has appeared on the NPR Diane Rehm Show
The Diane Rehm Show
The Diane Rehm Show is a National Public Radio call-in show based in the United States. In October, 2007, The Diane Rehm Show was named to Audience Research Analysis’ list of the top ten most powerful national programs in public radio – the only talk show on the list...
, the NBC Today Show; ABC’s Good Morning America
Good Morning America
Good Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
, ABC’s Nightline, and CBS’s Face the Nation
Face the Nation
Face the Nation with Bob Schieffer is an American Sunday-morning political interview show which premiered on the CBS television network on November 7, 1954. It is one of the longest-running news programs in the history of television...
.
Biskupic received her high school diploma from Benet Academy
Benet Academy
Benet Academy is a co-educational, college-preparatory, Benedictine high school in Lisle, Illinois, United States, overseen by the Diocese of Joliet. Founded in 1887, the school was initially established in Chicago as the all-boys St. Procopius College and Academy by Benedictine monks, who also...
, a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in Journalism from Marquette University
Marquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
, an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree in English from the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
, and a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
(law) degree from Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center is the law school of Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C.. Established in 1870, the Law Center offers J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. degrees in law...
. She has been a member of the District of Columbia bar since 1994.
Publications
- The Supreme Court Yearbook 1989-1990, Congressional Quarterly (1991), ISBN 087187590X
- The Supreme Court Yearbook 1990-1991, Congressional Quarterly (1992), ISBN 087187637X
- The Supreme Court Yearbook 1991-1992, Congressional Quarterly (1992), ISBN 0871877163
- Guide to the US Supreme Court, with Elder Witt, 3rd edition, Congressional Quarterly (1996), ISBN 1568021305
- The Supreme Court and Individual Rights, 3rd Edition, with Elder Witt, Congressional Quarterly (1997), ISBN 1568022395
- The Supreme Court at Work, 2nd edition, with Elder Witt, Congressional Quarterly (1997), ISBN 1568023235
- The Supreme Court and the Powers of the American Government, with Elder Witt, Congressional Quarterly (1997), ISBN 1568023243
- Sandra Day O'Connor: How the First Woman on the Supreme Court Became Its Most Influential Justice, Harper Collins (2005), ISBN 0060590181
- American Original: The Life and Constitution of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, Farrar, Straus and Giroux (2009), ISBN 0374202893