FindLaw book reviewer, attorney and author Elaine Cassel assesses Stanford Law Professor Lawrence Friedman's look at Twentieth Century American law in its cultural, political, and social context. Cassel finds the book impressively broad in scope, and explains both its outlook on legal history, and why it was prescient even as to developments (such as the war on terrorism and the Enron scandal) that followed its writing.
Friday, Jul. 12, 2002
FindLaw guest columnist, attorney and writer Laura Hodes weighs in on federal district judge James Zagel's first novel -- a legal thriller about a judge gone bad who decides to rob the Federal Reserve. In addition to assessing Zagel's skill as a writer, Hodes dissects both the main character's jaded view of judging, and his motivations for turning from imposing sentences on others to committing a momentous crime himself.
Friday, Jul. 05, 2002
FindLaw book reviewer and attorney David Lundsgaard evaluates Stuart Banner's
recently published history of the death penalty. Lundsgaard finds Banner
extremely fair, and the book highly relevant, especially due to two recent,
crucial Supreme Court death penalty decisions. Yet he also notes one area
where Banner's passion shows through, and takes issue with Banner's
prediction as to what will be the historical development that will finally
settle the death penalty debate.
Friday, Jun. 28, 2002
FindLaw bookreview and crimesofwar.org editor Anthony Dworkin discusses the
new essay collection on globalization edited by Peter L. Berger and Samuel P.
Huntington. Among the questions Dworkin, and the collection, take on are: Is
social science methodology the best way to assess the effects of
globalization? Is American culture truly taking over the world? What part
do religious movements play in globalization? And what about the influence
of non-American globalizing movements?
Friday, Jun. 21, 2002
FindLaw book reviewer and attorney Matt Herrington weighs in on a collection
of essays that presents itself as "the first serious study of stupidity."
Herrington discusses both the book's limits and its valuable insights as to
different ways in which our "stupid" thinking patterns can trip us up. He
also explains why these insights may often be applicable to lawyers in
particular.
Friday, Jun. 14, 2002
FindLaw book reviewer and attorney G.J. Russello evaluates the recently
published Oxford Companion to American Law, edited by historian and Utah
State University president Kermit Hall. Russello explains the ways in which
the Companion goes beyond other legal reference works, explores its virtues
and flaws, and addresses the question of whether it errs in emphasizing
federal cases at the expense of state cases.
Friday, Jun. 07, 2002
FindLaw book reviewer and attorney Roger Clegg assesses a recently published
anthology of analyses of the Rehnquist Court. Clegg critiques each essay
briefly, offering judgments ranging from the laudatory to the harsh to the
humorous. He also discusses his favorite essay, a piece by Judge J. Harvie
Wilkinson III, Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth
Circuit, regarding the Court's jurisprudence relating to race.
Friday, May. 31, 2002
FindLaw guest columnist and attorney Elaine Cassel reviews renowned litigator
Michael Tigar's new book -- a mixture of memoir, "war stories" from past
trials, and useful tips for litigators and trial lawyers. Tigar is probably
best known for convincing a jury to spare the life of Oklahoma City bombing
co-conspirator Terry Nichols. As Cassel discusses, his book reflects many
other interesting and important trials and experiences as well -- as Tigar
recounts how he lost his Supreme Court clerkship, and how he wins cases.
Cassel also conducted an interview with Tigar about the book and his life,
which is available on this site.
Friday, May. 24, 2002
In Elaine Cassel's interview with the renowned litigator, Michael Tigar
talks not only about his recent memoir Fighting Injustice, but also
about some of the issues that have come up for lawyers during the "War on
Terrorism." Should you represent a terrorist if asked? What if the
government asks you to get security clearance before you are allowed to?
What does the government need to prove in a conspiracy case such as the one
against Zacarias Moussaoui? Tigar weighs in on these and other important
questions. Meanwhile, Cassel reviews Tigar's new book elsewhere on this
site
Friday, May. 24, 2002
FindLaw book reviewer and attorney Sam Williamson discusses Widow's Walk, the
latest installment in the much-beloved Spenser series of detective novels.
The series follows a wisecracking Boston private detective as he solves
different cases. This time, Spenser investigates a murder and the victim is
a wealthy Bostonian. Williamson delivers a verdict on both the book itself,
and the direction the series has taken.
Friday, May. 17, 2002
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