Book Description
For anyone working within the California justice system -- attorneys, paralegals, court reporters, and law enforcement officials -- this book is an invaluable on-the-job reference. It's also a good research tool for anyone who wants to learn more about California criminal law and procedure. For attorneys practicing outside of California, this book is the perfect alternative to expensive and voluminous treatises.
Amazon.com
This is one powerful book: it will grab you with vivid stories about individual kids, draw you in with honesty and compassion, and amaze you with alarming details about how the juvenile justice system works (or rather, doesn't work) in America. Anyone interested in the problem of crime should read Edward Humes's gripping account of how future criminals are shaped in youth, and how the system misses its chance to help them before they're lost for good. As Richard Bernstein writes in the New York Times, "There are many admirable things about Mr. Humes's book, which, despite its grim subject matter, has a narrative power that keeps you reading right to the end. One of them is that Mr. Humes is a shrewd and perceptive observer of his young subjects ... [and he] allows himself to feel sympathy for the young people whose lives and crimes he describes.... At the same time, Mr. Humes never exonerates bad children for their badness." No Matter How Loud I Shout was a finalist for the 1997 Edgar Award in Fact Crime.
Customer Reviews:
A must read.......2006-12-03
A great introduction into the juvenile criminal justice system. I actually went to work for a public defenders' office because of this book.
A more recent book I'd highly reccommend is "Last Chance In Texas." Ironically, Texas has perhaps the most progressive juvenile justice system in the country. This book tells how Texas' worst juvenile offenders had their lives changed for the better.
Well-written, insightful, enlightening.......2006-06-08
Written over the course of one year in LA's juvenile court system, this book is very enlightening to the plight of our kids in detention and on the streets. It has recently been reported that less than 10% of Florida's almost $709 million juvenile justice budget is spent on prevention. I hope to do my personal part to change this in my community, by supporting intervention programs for at-risk youth.
Everyone Should Read This.......2006-04-10
This book is so SOOO depressing. And we deserve to feel that way about our Juvenile Justice system. Everyone remotely attached to criminal law or children should read this.
Indepth, insightful story by a gifted author.......2006-03-10
No Matter How Loud I Shout reads like a novel. It is an incredibly well written and compassionate view of the life of some of the country's forgotten "children". I really enjoyed it as well as "Baby ER" also by Mr. Humes.
A Great Source for Juvenile Justice Information.......2006-03-03
This book was a great source of information on the Juvenile Justice System, especially the system in Los Angeles. A compelling read, the grim realities of juvenile justice are conveyed with an unusual blend of compassion and pragmatism. A must-read for anyone interested in learning more about this important subject.
Book Description
Attorneys seldom charge less than $2,000 even for a simple divorce, and the rates can skyrocket from there. This complete guide does all that an attorney does and more for $29.95. Newly updated, How to Do Your Own Divorce in California covers everything a Californian needs to know about filing for divorce. Part one details how property can be divided and how to settle issues of custody, visitation and child support. Part two explains the court process step by step — how to complete each of the forms and file them with the court clerk; when to file each form; the waiting periods to expect between steps; and how to get through the court appearance or even avoid a court appearance altogether. Blank tear-out copies of all the court forms needed for an uncontested dissolution are included, along with a CD-ROM containing many resources including forms, worksheets, and a trial version of CalSupport software.
Customer Reviews:
You can do it all with this valuable title.......2007-04-05
Nolo Press was founded in 1971 specifically for the purpose of publishing the first edition of this title. The Nolo principle is that not all legal transactions require retention of a lawyer, and in the state of California, for an uncontested divorce between two parties, tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees can be saved with the purchase of this $30 title (which is regularly 30% off from Amazon).
This book is a step-by-step guide to the divorce process and each of the forms necessary for filing for divorce in California. The text explains the hows and whys of the filing process and warns of potential pitfalls that can cause filings to be rejected or invalidated in the future.
My husband and I separated after a two year marriage and worked amicably through the process with the aid of this book. We knew that we would save a bundle of money by avoiding hiring lawyers to do discovery on our behalf, and we wanted to split up our property and move on as painlessly as possible. We each purchased a copy of this book and used it to file all the forms in our county courthouse. There is a helpline for telephone consultations at a reasonable rate, and we spent a few hundred dollars to get advice on the Separation Agreement we had drafted together (detailing financial and personal property separation as well as our agreement on our joint mortgage). We got big bang for our buck by having a helpline lawyer personally go over our Separation Agreement and we were confident with filing all the paperwork ourselves.
This book is intended for unconstested, fairly amicable divorces. If one party is out to "get" the other, the services of a lawyer may be required. Nolo recommends mediation before litigation if at all possible, to save money and effort. The authors remind the reader that lawyers do not have the consumer's best interest at heart--their first priority is to protect themselves from malpractice lawsuits, and so they will be as thorough (and costly) as possible to meet that need.
If you are considering leaving your spouse and do not anticipate an amicable divorce, I would recommend purchasing Nolo's Essential Guide to Divorce instead of this book. That has all of the overview information of this title, with additional specifics on mediation and litigation that will help your case if it is going to be in those arenas instead of the do-it-yourself category.
Legal issues in plain English.......2007-01-05
This text is very easy to comprehend and provides everything you need to do-it-yourself.
Very helpful book.......2006-07-06
I used this book years ago for my own divorce and got the new edition to help a friend. Very easy to follow and helpful suggestions.
Book Description
A traffic conviction can add hundreds of dollars to your yearly auto insurance premiums. Fight Your Ticket shows you how to handle your case in traffic court, get the right kind of hearing and win. Attorney David Brown provides you with the detailed tactics you need to: • prepare and present your evidence. • argue before a judge. • cross-examine a police officer's testimony. • get your case dismissed. Scrupulously up-to-date, the 8th edition covers: • the most current legal ammunition for fighting a California traffic ticket. • the law requiring Californians to have proof of insurance. • new "hidden" speed limits on roads that have a 55 mph limit but no posted signs.
Download Description
A traffic conviction can add hundreds of dollars to your yearly auto insurance premiums. Fight Your Ticket shows you how to handle your case in traffic court, get the right kind of hearing and win. Attorney David Brown provides you with the detailed tactics you need to: prepare and present your evidence argue before a judge cross-examine a police officer's testimony get your case dismissed Scrupulously up-to-date, the 9th edition covers: the most current legal ammunition for fighting a California traffic ticket the law requiring Californians to have proof of insurance new hidden speed limits on roads that have a 55 mph limit but no posted signs
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Resource! We should all fight back.......2007-05-11
It is getting rediculous these days , simply how many tickets are issued without any consideration. Recently in california (san jose) the cops have even allocated a special group to give as many tickets. I found that in the last 3 months the group of 5 cops issued a total of 9000 tickets. I helped few of my friends to fight back with 90% success rate.
This book is a very good resource. Every one of us should fight back. The important thing is to make sure they spend more resources, money and time in resolving your discovery requests than they will get from your ticket fines. The trick is to ask for discoveries on things you suspect that maybe a problem. For e.g initating discovery requests such as radar calibration proof (for speeding tickets), condition of traffic lights (for e.g some yellow lights are quicker than others, in red light violation, or right turn without stop), electric lines affecting radars, condition of road (pot holes etc), and so on. you name it. You can find a lot more in this book. Also do some internet research.
I'm not saying that if you truly made a drastic mistake, you should do this. But very minor things that doesn't affect anyone , are being fined rediculous amounts these days.
If you win, you pay nothing and they spend already money and resources on the discoveries. If you loose, you pay the fine anyway, which you'll be paying if you don't fight it.
If enough of us fight back with help from books like these, they will do something to reduce the fines, and issue only tickets to reasonable and drastic mistakes.
Only 1 out of every 50 traffic tickets are disputed.......2006-10-18
Police officers know this statistic and that's one reason why they write tickets that they know wouldn't hold water! That's one of the points in this book. But more importantly the author explains clearly exactly what vehicle code you've been accused of and how you might benefit from disputing it. For example: the most common vehicle code violation in California is Section 22350. Do you know what that means? The author explains it in an easy to understand way. There are something like 5 conditions that have to be met to prove your guilt (I don't have the book right in front of me at the moment). He also explains that ALL of the conditions of Section 22350 have to be met in order for you to be found guilty. Not one or most of the conditions, but ALL of them. I found it pretty easy to get out of one of the conditions and the judge had no choice but to dismiss the charge.
First thing that happens is the officer is given a chance to say his part. He rants on and on about how he's the radar god, the gun was calibrated that morning, blah blah blah. Then it's your turn. Yes you're nervous, but you're also prepared! I said that I didn't dispute the radar's accuracy or the officer's ability to use it, and went on to my defense using the information learned in the book. I highly recommend it. For me, it was worth every penny...and another $421 on top of that ;-)
Well organized and written - but you'll probably lose your case.......2006-09-29
I really liked the way the book was orgnaized and written. There is a lot here yet it is easy to read. On the other hand, parts seem to conflict with what the judge and a lawyer friend told me. In particular, the book implied to me that without intent to break the law or negligence you have a chance to win. But apparently this rule of law does not apply to traffic cases. Whatever, I figured I was going to lose my case (I did, but with a slightly reduced fine) but I enjoyed learning about how the system works.
So I'd recommend the book if you like to know what's going on, but don't expect it to rescue you.
excellent resource in california.......2006-09-05
this book was very helpful in educating me in how to argue my case, it has little tips on how to throw off the officer's rhythm, and make you come across as knowledgable. Just realize you need to buy the book early, and do your research. If the judge sees an unprepared idiot who is just trying to pull a he said / she said game, you will have to pay.
EXCELLENT Resource - lots of tips.......2005-08-24
Just had my ticket dismissed today! This is a great book - can't guarantee that you'll win, but certainly gives you the tools necessary to defend yourself properly. Highly recommended.
Book Description
Despite what the jury thought, does the evidence demonstrate beyond any reasonable doubt that O.J. Simpson was guilty of murdering two people? O.J. Unmasked is a devastating review of the Simpson trial evidence, with disturbing and sometimes startling findings.
Customer Reviews:
Detailed Review of Defense Contradictions and Exaggerations.......2002-09-08
I have read most of the popular books about the Simpson case except for the Marcia Clark book, which I skimmed in a bookstore and decided that it added nothing new. This summer, I read Fuhrman's book and now this.
O.J. Unmasked is similar to Bugliosi's book, Outrage, in that it provides a great deal of detail and analysis of contradictions and exaggerations in the defense arguments. The two books even directly share some observations such as the fact that Simpson admitted during questioning by the police that he had bled around his house the night of the murders so there was little incentive for the police to then go and replant blood at a location he already had admitted bleeding in. The book is not so much a continuous narrative of the trial and related issues as it is a consideration of different bits of evidence and arguments put forth by the defense. Each chapter considers a different bit of evidence and underlying strategy. Rantala tries and I think succeeds in showing much of the defense's case was bunk when examined in detail and considered as a whole.
Some examples: there is a chapter on how the defense treated Fung as both a bungling idiot who handled no evidence correctly and yet was able to deftly participate in a massive coverup leaving almost no clues except perhaps some wet bindles. There is a good discussion of how Scheck's sneering closing argument misrepresented Henry Lee's actual testimony and other evidence and of the complete irrelevance of the Furhman tapes. There is also a small section on how the jury clearly misunderstood the DNA evidence and the non-issue of EDTA contamination of the blood stains on the back gate (there was no EDTA in these stains). And while numerous police arriving at the scene prior to Fuhrman confirmed they saw only a single glove at the crime scene, this was largely ignored at trial.
The ending, whereby she discusses all of the coincidences that would have to be true if Simpson were innocent, is almost worth the price of the book. I do think one flaw is that she does not discuss enough how Ito's abdication of the courtroom to all kinds of lawyer antics played a large role in the aura of confusion they were permitted to create and that ultimately won the case for Simpson. I also like how her argument that the media (read Geraldo, et al.) relied almost exclusively on lawyers for analysis and as a result, never had scientific or forensic specialists in to examine some of the court room claims for their factuality.
Overall, I would put this in the must read category for Simpson trial buffs along with Toobin's book (best overview), Bugliosi's book (how the prosecution should have tried the case), Schiller's book (a detailed behind the scenes look at defense team intrigues and strategy), and Fuhrman's book (what the crime scene evidence showed and how Vanatter et al. really messed up.)
And finally, to answer some of one reviewers' ersatz concerns: Simpson did not "smear blood all over the console". There were some blood spots and a bloody foot print on the floor mat (size 12) but not smeared blood. Some of the spots were so small, they were hard to get enough sample for DNA testing. Simpson even admitted he bled in his car (the "cut myself on my cell phone" excuse) though it is hard to fathom how Goldman's blood got there if it was that sharp cell phone that caused the bleeding. And Simpson DID bring home his shoes, clothes, and knife as well as the glove and socks. He put the shoes, clothes and knife in a knapsack which he let no one touch and which not even the defense team could produce. To this day, no one can say where that bag is. Most likely, Simpson tossed it in an airport garbage can and was lucky that no one found it before it was taken to a city dump. The socks he just took off and probably did not think there was any evidence on them. And/or he forgot them near his bed in his hurry. The glove was dropped as he banged into the air conditioner in Kato's guest house. He did not have time to go back and get it nor may he even have been aware that he had dropped it. BTW, the glove was soaked with his blood. If it were a plant and there were another killer, it should have had other blood on it as well. And so on....
The Final Verdict.......2001-12-11
For OJ to be guilty, you must believe that he quickly disposed of the bloody clothes, shoes, and knives so they would NEVER be found, yet brought the socks and glove back to his home! And then smeared blood all over the console!
The coroner who did the autopsies testified "the forensic evidence says the murders occurred after 11PM". The limousine driver testified he brought OJ to the airport at that time. When you read this book, note how they avoid discussing these facts.
The Best Single Book to Read.......2001-07-18
If you only read one book about the criminal trial of O. J. Simpson, this little gem is the one to read.
Yes, Ms. Rantala believes that O. J. participated in the murders. If you count that as a bias, then you must consider paying attention and retaining information to be vices.
The strength of her book, however, is not her fervent belief that O. J. got away with murder(s). Rather, the book's virtue is her clear communication of why the prosecutors ought to have been able to prove O. J. guilty in court.
I believe that the jurors did what they had to do, given the hash that the prosecutors made of the case: the liars for whom the prosecutors vouched; the handling of evidence that raised more questions than the prosecutors could swat away; the motives that made no sense as presented; and so on. However, Rantala shows that, although the verdict was legally correct because Simpson was not proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, the result of the trial was at odds with the facts.
Great book. Ignore the "OJ is innocent" reviewer!.......2001-07-10
.... Now, turning to the relatively sane rest of the world...this is a compelling and intelligent read that will be thoroughly enjoyed by all OJ buffs, even if you think you've already read enough books on the subject (as I thought I had). Jeffrey Toobin's book remains the best overview of the whole loopy story, and Bugliosi's "Outrage" stands as the most powerful analysis of the trial, what went wrong with it, and how it could/should have gone down. But THIS serves as the most inscrutably logical dissection of the evidence and arguments presented in the trial (as well as some delightful bonuses like the trivia quiz). Rantala does a wonderful job of proving the contradictions and nonsense in the defense arguments simply by providing examples from the text and forcing the reader to ask himself the most obvious questions about it, again and again confirming that no conclusion other than OJ's guilt is even within the realm of possibility.
Don't let the book's low profile fool you (I'd never even heard of it, I just happened upon it in the library). Even if you already agree with its conclusions, it's a terrific read, and conversely, it SHOULD (though obviously HASN'T) convince anyone who still harbors doubts: The verdict was wrong. A killer walks free.
The Reason Why O.J. Simpson is Not Guilty.......2000-06-03
The testimony of the two witnesses who cannot lie say that OJ Simpson is not guilty.
Blood and flesh were found under Nicole Brown's fingernails; the blood type did not match OJ (or Nicole or Ron). Ron Goldman walked to work, worked out, and practiced karate; his hands showed bruises from punching someone in the face or head more than once. OJ had no scratches or bruises on his hands, arms, face, or body: he could not have been a lone murderer.
The newspapers said that when the bodies were found after 12:15 AM their red blood was trickling down the sidewalk. The crime scene pictures printed in the National Enquirer showed the red blood. This says they were freshly killed, around 11:30, because their blood would be black and clotted if dead for over an hour (as in the Borden Murders).
The above physical evidence proves OJ Simpson to be innocent of these murders. Some say the 25 to 30 stab wounds on Ron Goldman suggest an emotional frenzy from a personal enemy, and Nicole Brown was the innocent bystander. The book "Killing Time" is the first and only objective book (arguments for both sides) to discuss all the evidence.
I hope that those who want to know the facts will read this, and reconsider any prejudgments that they made in June 1994.
Book Description
As many as 70 percent of California divorces encounter problems, and this book addresses them with clarity and common sense. It helps both Respondents and Petitioners in problem cases, covering everything from mild disagreements to flat-out warfare. It helps readers define strategies, protect themselves, negotiate for a fair settlement, make motions that get the court’s attention, demand and obtain information from the other side, and handle the case in court if it comes down to that. Blank tear-out forms and a CD-ROM of forms and additional resources are included.
Book Description
The only guide to California Small Claims Court that provides tips by former judges!
The definitive guide to California Small Claims Court for more than 25 years, this plain-English guide gives you step-by-step instructions to bring or defend your case -- from preparing evidence and lining up persuasive witnesses, to making a presentation in court and collecting the money you're awarded.
Everybody's Guide to Small Claims Court in California shows you how to:
-decide if you have a winning case
-mediate a settlement if possible
-determine how much to sue for
-write your demand letter
-file and serve papers
-prepare evidence and witnesses for court
-plan a winning courtroom strategy
-convince the judge that you are right
-collect your money when you win
The 16th edition -- updated with the latest laws and procedures -- now features practical tips and insights by former judges of small claims courts. It also shows you how to handle disputes involving Internet transactions.
Go after the money that's owed you -- represent yourself in small claims court and win!
Customer Reviews:
Excellent self help guide on the subject.......2006-03-04
If you are reading this review, you are most probably a prospective plaintiff considering recovering losses you incurred in an auto accident through the small claims court process. This guide will help you tremendously. The NoLo series is an incredible service to mankind. It is the equivalent to the Dummies series focused on the Law. And, who besides expensive lawyers really understand the Law? Readers who have studied NoLo books!
The book is very well organized. Even though there is a lot of material, it is easy to extract the information pertaining to your very specific situation. The author covers a lot of those; as he dedicates specific chapters to auto repairs, auto accidents, lord-tenant dispute, etc... The author states that he covers the main type of cases that account for 99% of the cases tried in small claim courts. I believe him. If your case is outside those presented, there is a good chance it does not belong in small claims court.
The author gives crucial information about the basics of small claim courts. If you are not a lawyer, you are unfamiliar with all the procedures associated with it. Thanks to this book, you will know exactly what to do and when to file, prepare, and try a claim in small claims court. Once you have done the studying and the preparing it is not all that difficult. And, this book allows you to navigate through a bureaucratic process that would appear overwhelming and Byzantine otherwise.
This is my second NoLo book and hopefully the last. Who wants to deal with the Law if you don't have to? My first one was on how to fight a ticket. Thanks to NoLo, I reduced the price of my ticket by $120. Now, I anticipate recovering the cost of a fender bender where I am dealing with one uninsured and one unwilling party. It is not fun, but those NoLo books allow you to uphold your rights when you have to.
START WITH THIS BOOK FIRST.......2001-06-29
If you want to make less mistakes, save time and money, it's best to start with this book so you can get the correct service, venue, and evidence organized to file and win. I found the chapter on how to write a demand letter and settle your claim before it gets to court very helpful. They even offer sample letters you use to settle your case. Nolo Press seems to put together the best legal self help books.
Win in Small Claims Court!.......2001-06-13
If you have a claim involving $5,000 or less, you can easily and inexpensively bring an action in Small Claims Court. But even though Small Claims Court is designed for non-attorneys (in fact, attorneys are not allowed) you still must have a basic understanding of the rules of evidence and know how to put on your case. Invest a little time to read this book, and you will stand a much better chance of winning.
Used it in real dispute........1997-08-07
I have used it and it works. It is straight to the point no nonsense approach. I won the case and did get my money back. It instructed my step by step, how to make a demand, file a claim, and serve the papers, how to prepare and act in court. Than how to collect a judgement, how to put the lien. What to do and when not to. Also commons sense advise when not to file. Power to the people, justice for all, without an attorney taking half of what is yours
Book Description
Represent yourself in California Superior Court for a case worth up to $25,000!
Some cases are too big for small claims court and too small to interest a lawyer. But Win Your Lawsuit takes you step by step through the entire process of a limited jurisdiction case in California Superior Court.
Take on common types of civil court cases worth up to $25,000, including:
*contract disputes
*personal injuries
*property damage cases
*business disputes
Whether you're bringing the suit or defending against one, this plain-English legal guide shows you how to prepare a complaint, file and serve papers, participate in settlement negotiations, present a case and much more. All the forms you need are included.
Written by Roderic Duncan, a retired California Superior Court judge, this book includes the legal insight and practical tips that only a judge with over 25 years of experience can provide.
Download Description
"Some cases are too big for Small Claims Court and too small to interest a lawyer. But Win Your Lawsuit takes you step by step through the entire process of a limited jurisdiction case in California Superior Court. Take on common types of civil court cases worth up to $25,000, including: contract disputes personal injuries property damage cases business disputes Whether you're bringing the suit or defending against one, this plain-English legal guide shows you how to prepare a complaint, file and serve papers, participate in settlement negotiations, present a case and much more. All the forms you need are included. Written by Roderic Duncan, a retired California Superior Court judge, this book includes the legal insight and practical tips that only a judge with over 25 years of experience can provide. "
Amazon.com
A former prosecutor and moderate Republican governor of California when appointed to the Supreme Court in 1953, Earl Warren (1891-1974) surprised everyone by leading it in an increasingly liberal direction. Brown v. Board of Education, Miranda v. Arizona, and other key decisions bolstered the rights of individuals and committed the federal government to acting in support of them. Journalist/historian Ed Cray's detailed account depicts an admirable, self-assured man who arrived slowly at positions, driven not by ideology but by an old-fashioned sense of morality that asked, "Is it fair?"
Customer Reviews:
Pretty good.......2006-03-17
Earl Warren was Chief Justice for 16 years, from 1953-69. he presided over Brown v. Board of Education, the most important case in US history. this book brilliantly portrays the Chief Justice.
Great Man, Great Book.......2005-10-04
Earl Warren grew up in Bakersfield, California. To those of you who've been there, it seems an unlikely place to beget one of the great justices of the 20th century who was known for his ability to continue to mold and change his ideas. However, this comprehensive and excellent biography of Earl Warren, Governor of California and 14th Chief Justice of the United States, shows that he turned out far from where he might have been expected to wind up.
The book starts with Warren's childhood, where he was an above-average student who went into the county courtroom every day because it was too hot outside and became entranced with the law. He would go to UC Berkeley for his undergraduate and law degrees, and after a few odd jobs would wind up as the Alameda County DA, where he made a name for himself by cleaning out organized crime, gambling, and prostitution from the county. His work gave him high visibility, from which to launch his campaign for Attorney General of California, where he would be responsible in the infamous forced internment of Japanese and Japanese-Americans after Pearl Harbor (as the author notes, only near the end of his life did he come to terms with this act). Then, as now, State AG was merely a stepping stone to the Governor's Mansion, to which he won three terms. Although a Republican, he pushed for progressive reforms in many areas: he tried to get all Californians covered for healthcare (and failed), he tried to make college in California excellent and inexpensive (and succeeded), and he tried to pass worker safety and environmental protection legislation (and did both). He was extremely popular in the state, in fact, in 1946 he won the primaries for the Democratic, Republican, and Progressive parties (Under California law at the time, you could file for the nominations of all parties). His reputation as a moderate consensus-builder in a Democratic state who had still accomplished most of what he wanted made him a lock for the Vice-Presidential slot alongside Tom Dewey, which seemed as sure a thing as possible. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately) for Warren, the 1948 election was won by Harry Truman in the biggest surprise in American politics. He would run again four years later, in 1952, hoping to be able to become a consensus candidate for President. Instead, he ended up having to surrender his chances due to an insufficient budget and lobbying by Dwight Eisenhower. Ike, however, knew what Warren had given up and promised him the thing that he really wanted: an appointment to the Supreme court, which happened less than a year later, with the passing of Chief Justice Fred Vinson. This is where the book heats up. The book makes clear that Warren was neither an intellectual, nor a brilliant writer nor the possessor of a natural legal intuition. What he did have, though, was the willingness to work very hard, as well as the ability to persuade colleagues to vote with him. His leadership became apparent when the Brown decision was handed down, unanimously. Brown was nearly evenly divided before, however, Warren went to work on his colleagues one at a time and managed to wrangle agreement on what is, aside from Roe v. Wade, the most famous and without a doubt the most celebrated court case of all. Never one to settle with small or half measures, Warren proceeed to establish a broad interpretation of the constitution, guided by a simple moral compass. He knew that any decision could be backed up by reasoning and precedent, so he picked the side he felt was morally right and let his clerks sort it out. The major cases, including Gideon v. Wainwright (establishing a right to an attorney), Miranda v. Arizona (ever seen a cop show?), and Mapp v. Ohio (ensuring state legislatures were determined by population and not by land) were controversial, but now they seem almost natural. Occasionally the court went too far for the public: banishing school prayer sparked a debate that continues to this day, but again, Warren was looking out for fairness--in this case, he wanted no ill-will toward non-believing schoolchildren. As the book notes, very few of the Chief's vast pronouncements have been rolled back by the Burger and Rehnquist courts, and it seems certain by this point that they will have long life in the republic. The book also goes over his involvement in the Warren Commission to investigate the JFK assassination, in some detail. However, some of the most interesting material involves his ability to lead the other disparate justices on the court: moderating the continuing feuds between the liberal activist faction, including Hugo Black and William Douglas; and the judicial restraint supporters like Felix Frankfurter and Robert Jackson.
John Roberts should read closely how Warren managed to provide a model for being a Chief Justice: kind but firm, willing to compromise but continually steering the court in his own direction. Love him or hate him, Warren is rightfully considered among the best Chief Justices, and this book tells why. After reading, it is little wonder that after Warren's departure, and the arrival of the super-political hack Warren Burger, justices like William Brennan, Black and Douglas regarded him as the real chief. Warren was a man who transcended his times: his total lack of prejudice and dedication to preserving the American dream gave him a greater impact on America than Eisenhower or Nixon, his arch-enemy. We could use more men from all persuasions like him.
The best biography of the most controversial chief justice.......2004-05-09
For those who have even heard of Earl Warren he is solely identified as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Ed Cray's wonderful biography clearly shows that he was much more than simply a judge, he was a seminal political figure during the mid-20th century. Cray presents Warren's rise to political stardom in clear and lively terms. Warren represented the progressive wing of the Republican party and was so popular as Govenor of California that he defeated FDR's son after the war and was even the nominee of both parties in one of his elections. Beyond his service in California, Cray also demonstrates just how close Warren came to the oval office when he ran as VP with Thomas Dewey, who would likely have won the election had he followed Warren's advice.
Cray does a more than adequate job in detailing how Warren got on the Court through a back room deal with Eisenhower. Warren was hardly a great judge in the sense of a brilliant legal mind, he typically decided cases based upon what was fair and left it up to his law clerks to come up with the technical theories to support it. But Warren was a great chief justice in a time when the Court needed a brilliant politician to heal the deep divisions that existed between different members of the Court. In the end Warren lead the Court through its single most creative period and it is amazing, regardless of your opinion on the outcome of this period, just how much this liberal Court accomplished.
Cray's work is hardly ground breaking, it presents no significant new additions to our knowledge of Warren, but he does present a huge life in a relatively concise work. This is a book that is well worth reading if you are interested in either the Court or American political culture in the mid-20th century.
Good overall, but some unanswered questions.......2001-10-18
This is probably the best book out there on Earl Warren, covering his life in politics and at the Supreme Court. Ed Cray does a good job explaining the roots of Warren's political beliefs and how he used his political background to exert such a strong influence on the Supreme Court.
Unfortunately, Ed Cray doesn't follow up on at least two issues: Warren's friendships with J. Edgar Hoover and William Knowland. According to the book, when Warren was in California state government he became such good friends with J. Edgar Hoover that he called Hoover "Jay"- yet it seems hard to imagine that Warren's friendship with Hoover survived some of his court decisions. Perhaps it did, but Cray doesn't address the issue. Similarly, it seems that Warren's liberal court decisions would have impacted his friendship with conservative Senator William Knowland, but the book doesn't talk about this, either.
Compact book on a voluminous subject.......2001-07-02
To write a comprehensive book on the life of Earl Warren and include the numerous controversial court decisions would produce a volume so thick, reading it would be exhaustive-and probably boring. Ed Cray has successfully limited this biography to the details of Warren's life without dragging the reader through the typical grandparent and parent's life stories. His overview of the major court decisions, their impact on society and some of the Court's inner battles have been successfully handled.
The reader should know however, that this is not an unbiased book. Cray worships Warren and is very reluctant to criticize him. (The author takes Warren to task over Warren's support of Japanese internment in WWII but I suspect this criticism early on in the book is due to Warren later regret in his involvement.) Among the dedications, is "To Civil Libertarians All"-while there is nothing wrong with that, it points out the author's political bias that is so evident in his writing. Conservatives on the court and in Warren's earlier political life come across badly (especially Felix Frankfurter) and by the end of the book I was cynical as to why Cray constantly referred to Hugo Black as the Alabaman. (Isn't it Alabamian?) None of the other justices were so oft named by the State's origin.
If you love Warren, you'll love this book. If you want an objective and critical look into Warren's life, you might end up frustrated at the author's attempt to over-glorify his subject. Nevertheless, it's still an excellent book.
Amazon.com
Just when you thought every drop of bathos, blather, and recrimination that could be squeezed out of the O. J. Simpson murder trial had been, along comes this book, which reveals the "Dream Team," Simpson's cabal of defense lawyers, as an even less charming bunch of egomaniacs and prevaricators than anyone imagined. Johnnie Cochran is a puffed-up silver-tongued bantam with suspicions that his celebrity client is, after all, guilty; Robert Shapiro is a status-obsessed moron; F. Lee Bailey almost derails the whole defense strategy more than once with his courtroom mishaps. How did these guys win? Produced by Larry Schiller, who co-wrote Simpson's jailhouse bestseller I Want to Tell You and who has a history of plumbing the depths of famously sordid murder cases, this book carries its own lurid fascination.
Book Description
The riveting account of the O.J. Simpson murder trial is told in the uncensored words of Simpson's closest confidants and attorneys. American Tragedy reveals the answers to many of he case's unexplained questions for the first time. What happened to the missing Louis Vuitton bag? How did Simpson's team stage a deception during the jury's visit to his mansion? You've heard the speculation's and rumors; now read what really happened.
Customer Reviews:
The Defense of O. J. Simpson.......2007-02-19
This 689 page hardcover book presents the "Uncensored Story of the Simpson Defense", factually based on personal interviews, documents, transcripts, and other material (p.ix). The `Acknowledgments' tells of Schiller's friendship with Bob Kardashian, and thanked the many who helped him. He tells how Vannatter told OJ's lawyer he wasn't under arrest (p.10), then when he talked to OJ alone he gave the Miranda warning (p.11). The idea of OJ using a knife was wrong, he owned nine guns (p.12). This case was all over the TV. [Was it to distract the public from the Korean war scares of May?] OJ's plumbing was awry from the thorough police search (p.26). After this OJ called Bob Shapiro who immediately hired the best experts (p.28). OJ was very emotional for his polygraph (p.33). OJ "didn't do it, wouldn't do it" (p.37). The photographs of OJ showed no marks or scratches (p.39). OJ's medications made him groggy (p.41).
Schiller tells about Bill Pavelic's life with the LAPD (p.45). The wounds on the victims suggested two knives, two killers (p.47). AC doubled for OJ to draw away the media crowd (p.48). Schiller tells about the events on the day OJ was arrested. OJ was depressed, he went outside with AC, they were gone when the police arrived (pp.60-61). Bailey knew OJ's letter "shrieked innocence" (p.64). OJ's room in Chicago had broken glass and fresh bloodstains (p.66). OJ knew a long trial would deplete his wealth (p.67). That may explain his suicidal thoughts, the captain going down with his ship. The details about OJ's surrender are on pages 73-76. Pavelic had a different view of the LAPD at Simpson's house: poking around or taking evidence (p.77).
Kardashian told the imprisoned OJ that "God has a plan for your life" (p.83). Shapiro chose the 3 greatest lawyers he knew: Bailey, Uelman, and Dershowitz (p.87). The story of Jill Shively about a Bronco at 10:50 had no corroboration (p.94). The 911 tape of Nicole damaged OJ's reputation but led to the dismissal of the grand jury. [Some said the grand jury would not indict OJ for murder.] Page 133 gives some reactions to Fuhrman's testimony; Bailey had doubts. Pavelic noticed Fuhrman was all over this case, but not in the reports (p.134). Some LAPD officers worried about Fuhrman (p.135). This part tells of the importance of Kardashian behind the scenes. When the press turned against OJ, were they leading or trailing public opinion (p.167)? Why was OJ's blood taken to the crime scene (p.173)? Why was some blood missing (p.174)? A neighbor's maid saw the Bronco parked around 10:15pm (p.186). The record keeping of the blood evidence was incomplete (p.187). How could they know that Nicole's blood was on OJ's socks before they tested (p.213)? There was no blood on the socks when collected for evidence (p.214)!
When the jury selection began the high costs of the defense caused budget problems (p.219). The defense strategy was reasonable doubt, the effect of a rush to judgment (p.223). Only the DNA evidence from the blood makes OJ look guilty (p.225). [But how did it get there?] Cochran's faith in OJ's innocence was unshakable (p.226). [Did he have a source in the DA's office?] Was there tampering with the bindles (p.228)? If the blood evidence is untrustworthy, there is no case. There was a question about the blood drops (p.286).
This very thorough book is much too long. About 100 pages on the pre-trial efforts, 250 pages on the trial would make a faster reading book. The minute details could be posted on an Internet site and not impede the narrative. For many, the high point of this trial was "the gloves didn't fit". There were other problems with the evidence, but none so glaring. [Try on your old gloves over a latex glove; it still fits.] We know the loafer shoes that left a bloody print were never bought or worn by OJ (those published photographs were faked). Most of all the time line showed OJ could not have personally murdered Nicole and Ron.
1000 Page Chronological Accounting - Well Written.......2006-07-17
The book is a chronological telling of O.J. story, starting around the time of the murders and going right through to the end of the trial. It includes a lot of detril or trivia that is fascinating to the trial folowers - that we did not see through the regular media coverage.
O.J. never says to Schiller, "okay I killed her now are you happy?" No he never says that but reading between the lines it is clear that O.J. acts like he has done it; his friends act like he has done it; the defense team acts like he has done it; and, on and on the story goes. Clearly the defense team and O.J. and his friends thought he might be found guilty and there seems to be a degree of surprise that he gets off free and clear of the criminal charges.
I read the 1000 page book cover to cover and found it to be well written with lots and lots of insights, inside knowledge, lots of new detail, and generally one of the better books on the O.J. trial. Frankly it is very good up to a certain point in time, that being the moment when he finished writing the book. Even with 1000 pages he misses many things. Is it fair and 100% accurate? Probably not. But it makes for a good read and it is one of the best books on the subject.
The ultimate chronicle of the "trial of the century".......2005-03-18
This is the best O.J. Simpson trial book out there. It is encyclopedic in its detail, comprehensive and exhaustive enough to satisfy any detail-lover's appetite for "trial of the century" tidbits.
Schiller and Willworth are slightly biased in favor of the "guilty" side, but so am I...those who are sure O.J. is innocent may object to some of the editorializing.
But there is no question that if you want the best chronicle of this extraordinary legal and cultural event, this is the place to get it. Well worth the money by page count alone! :)
Absorbing but rather long.......2003-04-15
I decided to read this book and expected a very detailed inside account of the so called "Dream Team". Overall the book exceded my expectations. It is an almost daily account of what went on in the trial and the behind the scenes details are the most interesting. Especially insightful are the thoughts of Robert Kardashian and his "evolving" thoughts on O.J. Kardashian, Carl Douglas (Cochran's associate) and Shawn Chapman (another Cochran assoc.) are the main sources of the information for the book. The events surrounding the verdict and O.J.'s worries about his security after the trial is something I never thought about. There really was concern for the lawyers' safety as well. Of all the characters involved in the dream team, Bailey comes out looking the worse. His drinking and hand tremors make him an almost pathetic figure. Barry Scheck, even w/his doubts of Simpson's innocence, looks the best without any doubt. O.J. should thank him for his acquittal. After 600 pages, you start wondering when it will end but it was necessary to make it that long because it gives you a sense of the unbelievable length of the "trial of the century".
Captivating Trial and Book.......2003-02-14
Schiller provides a useful look into the trial which captivated the nation and this reviewer. I was so interested in watching our judicial system handle such a case of national interest. My reaction after seeing all of this was twofold: if a juror, I would support the decision of acquittal, due simply to the fact that the prosecution did not put forward a case that proved beyond reasonable doubt; two, I like all suspect O.J. put the facts of the case as presented did not support this. I continue to be disturbed that many fellow citizens cannot clearly make this distinguishment. Our whole legal system is built on this, innocent "until" proven guilty.
What one thinks is irrelevant. What is relevant is allowable evidence in the court. Schiller gets behind scenes and gives much background info for consideration. Especially does he provide picture of defense and prosecuter teams. Fascinating stuff!
Schiller helps clear some of the smoke away. Cloud of suscpicion still pervades however, and might never be dispersed. Great read as all of Schiller's.
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- Constitutional Law: Principles And Policies (Introduction to Law Series)
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- Critical Race Theory 2Nd Ed Pb
- Cursor's Fury (Codex Alera)
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General
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Handbook of Psychology, Forensic Psychology (Handbook of Psychology)
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