Readers drive from as far away as South Jordan to attend the Brigham City Library's discussion series.
"It's like a free college class, with all of these professors leading discussions in their area of expertise," said Sue Hill, director of the library.
The theme for the 2012 reading discussion series, which focuses on 11 books, is "Rule of Law."
"We felt that American law would be interesting to have some discussions on," said Hill. "There are a lot of books on the Supreme Court, one on Lincoln and how he changed the Constitution during the Civil War. ... Some are historical, and some of it is current."
Discussions are free and open to the public. The first discussion starts at 7 p.m. Thursday, in the library at 26 E. Forest St.
Books are usually available at the library about five weeks prior to discussions, so many people are already reading for the January and February sessions.
"You don't have to have a library card," said Hill, explaining that you can borrow the books for this series by signing a list at the library.
The books on the list were selected with the help of Kathryn MacKay, a history professor at Weber State University who also creates write-ups for participants to take home, based on her research of the topics.
Discussions start at 7 p.m. the first Thursday of each month, with the exceptions of July and September.
For more information, call 435-723-5850.
* Jan. 5 -- "A Time to Kill," by John Grisham. Grisham's fictional courtroom drama focuses on a lawyer in a small town in the South, defending a black Vietnam veteran who killed two white men for raping his daughter. Discussion led by Sally Shigley, of WSU's English department.
* Feb. 2 -- "John Marshall: Definer of a Nation," by Jean Edward Smith. A portrait of Marshall, Chief Justice of the United States from 1801 to 1835. The 1996 book is based on primary sources, and includes extensive endnotes. Discussion led by Kathryn MacKay.
* March 1 -- "Our Secret Constitution: How Lincoln Redefined American Democracy," by George P. Fletcher. This 2001 book explores the Civil War's impact on American legal history -- not only at how laws changed during the war, but how the principles put forward by Lincoln shape beliefs today. Peter McNamara, from Utah State University's department of political science, leads this discussion.
* April 5 -- "America's First Woman Lawyer: The Biography of Myra Bradwell," by Jane M. Friedman. Bradwell applied to practice law in 1869, but was denied, so she became a legal journalist. She worked for judicial reform and women's rights, and helped obtain the release of Mary Todd Lincoln from an insane asylum. The book was published in 1993. Discussion led by Kathryn MacKay.
* May 3 -- "War Law: Understanding International Law and Armed Conflict," by Michael Byers. This 2005 book looks at rules governing war actions since the 1800s, including the U.N. Charter of 1945. Three chapters talk about self-defense, and three are devoted to humanitarian intervention. Discussion led by Brandon Little, assistant professor of history at WSU, who has a background in military history.
* June 7 -- "The Brethren: Inside the Supreme Court," by Bob Woodward and Scott Armstrong. A behind-the-scenes look, published in 1979, at the Supreme Court, and the decision-making process of the justices. Discussion led by Kathryn MacKay.
* July 12 -- "Vietnam War on Trial," by Michal R. Belknap. Analysis of the My Lai Massacre, in which civilians were killed in South Vietnam by United States Army soldiers. The author includes information about the cover-up and political manipulation of the event. The book was published in 2002. Discussion led by Brandon Little.
* Aug. 2 -- "Gideon's Trumpet," by Anthony Lewis. An exploration of the case of James Earl Gideon, whose legal battle led to the ruling that counsel must be appointed for the poor in felony cases. Originally published in 1964. Discussion led by Peter McNamara.
* Oct. 4 -- "Sandra Day O'Connor: How the First Woman on the Supreme Court Became Its Most Influential Justice," by Joan Biskupic. The 2005 book follows O'Connor's life, from early years on a ranch to her time as a state senator in Arizona, and looks at how she helped William Rehnquist prepare for his nomination to the Supreme Court before receiving her own. Sally Shigley leads this discussion.
* Nov. 1 -- "A Matter of Interpretation: Federal Courts and the Law," by Antonin Scalia. Supreme Court Justice Scalia shares ideas on how the Constitution should be interpreted, with responses from a historian and legal scholars. Published in 1997. Discussion led by Thom Kuehls, from WSU's political science department.
* Dec. 6 -- "Making Our Democracy Work: A Judge's View," by Steven Breyer. Justice Breyer explores the Supreme Court's responsibility of interpreting the Constitution, and power to rule on laws enacted by elected representatives. Published in 2010. Thom Kuehls leads this discussion.
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