Hanging chads. Butterfly ballots. Unruly demonstrations across the country. A state capital occupied by the national press corps. For thirty-six excruciating days in late 2000, a nation held its breath while seven men held in their hands the fate of the presidential election in Florida. The events that transpired within the justices’ chambers - their arguments, exhortations, and appeals to one another - have remained a mystery . . . until now.

Inside’ Bush v. Gore’ presents the unique, candid, and compelling perspective of the Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice who stood at the centre of the storm. Charley Wells, a strong dissenting voice in the court’s 4-3 decision that mandated a statewide manual recount, gives an unprecedented play-by-play account of those tumultuous days. Not only is his legal analysis of Bush v. Gore at the state and federal levels invaluable, but he also offers an insider’s view of judicial alliances, the frustrations of ambiguous election laws, the difficulties in separating the legalities from the politics, and the unsung yet critical role played by state court professionals.