Dr. Jonathan Swainger is the former chair of the History Department at the University of Northern British Columbia.

"In spite of its pedestrian title, this is really quite a good book. Nine writers provide essays on such topics as Hutterites, water rights, marriage, and Indians..Some of the authours deal with specific topics..Other essays by Wayne N. Renke, Dale Gibson, Arlene J. Kwasniak, Alastair R. Lucas, Marie L. Gordon, Jennifer Koshan and Elizabeth Whitsitt made good use of case studies as well as supreme court authority to produce a most interesting and readable book." Hugh Dempsey, Alberta History, Mar 2008.

"Like recent works on Nova Scotia and Manitoba, Swainger's volume deepens our understanding of the pivotal role courts play in shaping and reflecting the society in which they interpret law and dispense justice." Eric M. Adams, University of Alberta, The American Review of Canadian Studies, Winter 2008

"The nine essays offered here are highly creditable, exhaustively researched, carefully controlled, firmly stated, and engagingly written. The editing is impeccable." Christopher English, Canadian Book Review Annual Online, 2007

"Nine writers provide essays on such topics as Hutterites, water rights, marriage, and Indians. Some of the authors deal with specific topics. Other essays by Wayne N. Renke, Dale Gibson, Arlene J. Kwasniak, Alastair R. Lucas, Marie L. Gordon, Jennifer Koshan and Elizabeth Whitsitt made good use of case studies as well as supreme court authority to produce a most interesting and readable book." Hugh Dempsey, Alberta History, March 2008