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Supreme Court Justice Gorsuch Warns Lack of Civics Education Is America’s ‘Greatest Danger’
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Supreme Court Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch poses for a portrait in the East Conference Room of the Supreme Court in Washington on June 1, 2017. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
By Jack Phillips
11/14/2025Updated: 11/14/2025

Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch said he believes one of the “greatest” dangers facing American society today is a lack of civics education, noting that many Americans lack a basic understanding of the government.

“This is one thing my colleagues and I really agree on: the importance of bringing civic education to our children,” Gorsuch told Fox News on Nov. 13.

He added that “half of Americans” cannot pass the citizenship test that non-Americans who are seeking to become U.S. citizens are expected to pass.

“Most Americans cannot name the three branches of government. And if you ask me what the greatest danger America faces today, it’s itself,” Gorsuch said.

He also added that Americans “need to know our shared history” and that “the things that separate us pale in comparison to the things that unite us.”

The Supreme Court justice also revealed that he is co-authoring a children’s book, set for release next year, which focuses on the Declaration of Independence and early American Revolutionary War heroes.

The book, titled “Heroes of 1776: The Story of The Declaration of Independence,” is due to be published in May 2026. The date is intended to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration.

“Over the next year, we’ll celebrate a lot of dates and events with fireworks, and I wanted to share with children some stories about the courage and sacrifice of the heroes behind 1776 who gave us our Constitution and our liberties,” Gorsuch told Fox News.

According to a description, Gorsuch is co-writing the book with author Janie Nitze, and it’s being published by HarperCollins. Gorsuch added that the book’s artist won’t use artificial intelligence to generate the images.

“Dive into the stories of ordinary people willing to do extraordinary things, from iconic figures like Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Ben Franklin, and Paul Revere, to lesser—known revolutionaries such as Caesar Rodney, Thomas Paine, and Mary Katherine Goddard,” a summary of the book said.

Gorsuch, who has already published a book on government overreach titled “Over Ruled: The Human Toll of Too Much Law” in August 2024, is one of many Supreme Court justices to sign book deals in recent years.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor has written several children’s books since her appointment to the Supreme Court.

“‘My Beloved World’ has sold very, very well, and ‘Just Ask’ is not far behind,” Sotomayor said in an appearance at the University of Hawaii’s law school last year, referencing the books she authored.

Earlier this year, Justice Amy Coney Barrett released a memoir, “Listening to the Law: Reflections on the Court and Constitution,” which the publisher says is the justice providing insight into “her role (and daily life) as a justice, touching on everything from her deliberation process to dealing with media scrutiny.”

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson held several public events this year to promote her memoir, titled “Lovely One: A Memoir,” released in 2024.

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Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter who covers a range of topics, including politics, U.S., and health news. A father of two, Jack grew up in California's Central Valley. Follow him on X: https://twitter.com/jackphillips5

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