CNN analyst headlines booksALIVE Saturday

PANAMA CITY — CNN senior legal analyst and author Jeffrey Toobin said he has a special love for Florida, especially in February.

Toobin has written several books and his latest, “The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court,” will be part of his presentation Saturday at the 13th annual bookALIVE festival of reading.

“I will be talking about the contemporary Supreme Court and how it reflects the politics of the day, particularly the health-care case…,” Toobin said Friday in a telephone interview.

He added he believes many people have a misguided view of the Supreme Court.

“I think a lot of people believe that the court is the refuge from the partisanship so familiar in Congress, but in fact the court is very much an ideological, divided body and that is reflected in many of their decisions,” Toobin said.

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Toobin started his legal career as a lawyer but said becoming an analyst was not a big stretch for him.

“I had always been involved in student journalism in school and both my parents were journalists. I think my genetic destiny has kicked in after a few years practicing law,” Toobin said.

Not only is Toobin looking forward to winter in Florida, he said he always supports bookstores and libraries and he wants the booksALIVE participants to enjoy themselves.

“It’s not homework; it’s supposed to be fun,” Toobin said.