The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg Last Branch Standing | Interview: Sarah Isgur
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Apr 13, 2026 
Sarah Isgur, author and legal commentator known for Advisory Opinions, discusses her book Last Branch Standing and Supreme Court history. She unpacks the Court’s origins, how docket control reshaped power, and her 3-3-3 model of justice blocs. Conversation covers originalism vs textualism, surprising coalition patterns, notable rulings, and quirky justice trivia.
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Precedent Requires Balanced Judgment
- Precedent is both fragile and indispensable: strict 'never overturn' stances lead to narrow fact distinctions, but indiscriminate overturning undermines legal stability.
- Isgur shows Roberts Court overturns precedent at a lower rate than Warren Court, complicating simple narratives.
Samuel Alito Bands Migratory Birds
- Samuel Alito bands migratory birds from a blind during vacations as a conservation activity rather than typical justice leisure.
- Isgur recounts Alito's hands-on bird-banding and his affection for animals, noting two 'stray' cats he feeds as his own.
Sotomayor Nicknamed Little Aji
- Sonia Sotomayor's childhood nickname was Little Aji and she once got her head stuck in a bucket as a toddler.
- Isgur uses this to illustrate Sotomayor's fiery personality and early vividness.
