Trials Books

For those who are interested in understanding how to read and use the Bible in ways that are neither limited by literalism nor disempowered by a cold higher criticism, this is a very helpful book.

Early on, this book includes a discussion of communication theories that is probably more complex and academic than most readers will find helpful. But, when he moves past this, Blount illustrates how the Bible is well deployed in popular settings like traditional "Negro spirituals," Ernesto Cardenal's work with the Nicaraguan peasants of Solentiname, and Tom Skinner's urban American revolutionary preaching.

Blount is certainly supportive of academic higher critical study of the Bible but he is also convinced that this is not the only way to use the Bible.

Blount argues that Scripture has many interpretations. Since, according to his theory of communications, the context of the interpreter is a legitimate aspect of the process of interpretation, our perception of what the text meant and means will change depending on our context as interpreters. "The text is multivalent," he writes. "It has no single meaning."

This, however, (and this is an absolutely critical point) does not mean that the interpreter is free to apply any meaning whatsoever to the text. The fact that there is "no single meaning" doesn't mean that just any subjective meaning we might want to apply to a text is acceptable. The text is multivalent but within a limited range of possible meanings.

Blount demonstrates that academic biblical scholarship, in spite of claims of scientific objectivity, is always biased by the scholar's culture, assumptions, historical time and methods. (Blount does not use the word "bias," but instead prefers more value-neutral terms like "the micro-interpersonal," a linguistic term, or "pre-understanding," a Bultmannian term.) Blount does not see bias or subjectivity as necessarily a negative thing. Instead bias is seen as an unavoidable condition of all interpretation because of the sociolinguistic nature of language.

The bias of the oppressed, Blount suggests, may even open windows to understand the meaning of Scripture in a way we might otherwise miss.

It is refreshing and rewarding to see a biblical scholar as sophisticated as Blount working so to help the academic world listen to the world's oppressed and marginalized peoples. Finally, they may be the ones who really understand what the Bible is all about.

Drunkards & Outright Fools: Courts-martial Of Civil War Union Colonels by Civil War enthusiast and expert Thomas P. Lowry focuses on illustrative case studies as well as a broad-based statistical exploration to better understand why, or at least how in the Union Army, a colonel during the American Civil War was five times more likely to be court-martialed than a private. Colorful anecdotes and a deeper examination of the severities of the times make Drunkards & Outright Fools a unique and inherently fascinating addition to any civil war reference collections or supplemental reading list.

I love the Casey Bannister mysteries by Michael Murphy. They are good old fashioned murder mysteries. Casey Bannister, the private detective is quite a character and I am always waiting to see what he is doing next.

The D.A. Goes to Trial

An early morning train approached Madison City. The fireman saw a dead body by the trestle, and notified the station agent, who then called the Coroner. Mark Crandall visits D.A. Doug Selby on a matter that must be kept confidential. There is important news about the disposition of that hobo's body (Chapter iii). The bookkeeper of the Las Alidas Lumber Company has gone missing. Auditors found a shortage or about $8,000. Their safe had $10,000 wrapped in a newspaper (Chapter iv)! They learn more about the hobo's brother in Phoenix; the conditions point to murder. A banker wants the investigation of John Burke's disappearance ended (Chapter v).

Inez Stapleton has returned with a law degree and has also studied criminology (Chapter vi). Selby flies to Tucson to interview James Lacey about his stolen Cadillac, found in Las Alidas. They learn about the missing Mrs. Burke, and get an identification of the dead hobo (Chapter vii). Selby learned who took $10,000 out of his bank (Chapter viii). Selby is awakened early to hear of a bank robbery and murder of the banker in Las Alidas. Later Selby gets a phone call and learns about Jim Lacey. The fingerprint evidence has startling facts. There is a conflict over the identification of John Burke's photographs. A broker in Los Angeles identifies the photographs as Allison Brown (Chapter x).

Inez Stapleton will defend James Lacey and Mrs. John Burke. The LA fingerprint men checked John Burke's home - the fingerprints there don't match the corpse (Chapter xi)! The events before the Grand Jury have dramatic highlights (Chapter xiii). Selby flies to Phoenix to investigate Lacey's background and finds an important clue (Chapter xiv). The case against Lacey seems wrapped up, but then Sylvia Martin tells Selby about a new witness (Chapter xv). This witness will testify about the identification if needed (Chapter xvi). The trial begins in Chapter xvii. The questioning of a witness is stopped by a surprise objection. Later reporter Sylvia Martin found another surprise witness for Doug Selby. Another witness shows up to repeat what he heard about Lacey's story. If Lacey hadn't first lied to Selby he would've been in the clear. But Selby suddenly asks for fingerprints on a cellophane package. This leads to a solution in Chapter xviii. The guilty person was found out, the innocence of the defendant established. A happy ending with justice. All the loose pieces of the puzzle now fit.

These novels echo Erle Stanley Gardner's 'Perry Mason' series. A lawyer who follows the facts to achieve his goal, aided by an investigator and a female newspaper reporter. The investigation finally uncovers the facts needed to solve the puzzle. [This series deserves reprinting.]

The D.A. Goes to Trial, by Erle Stanley Gardner

An early morning train approached Madison City. The fireman saw a dead body by the trestle, and notified the station agent, who then called the Coroner. Mark Crandall visits D.A. Doug Selby on a matter that must be kept confidential. There is important news about the disposition of that hobo's body (Chapter iii). The bookkeeper of the Las Alidas Lumber Company has gone missing. Auditors found a shortage or about $8,000. Their safe had $10,000 wrapped in a newspaper (Chapter iv)! They learn more about the hobo's brother in Phoenix; the conditions point to murder. A banker wants the investigation of John Burke's disappearance ended (Chapter v).

Inez Stapleton has returned with a law degree and has also studied criminology (Chapter vi). Selby flies to Tucson to interview James Lacey about his stolen Cadillac, found in Las Alidas. They learn about the missing Mrs. Burke, and get an identification of the dead hobo (Chapter vii). Selby learned who took $10,000 out of his bank (Chapter viii). Selby is awakened early to hear of a bank robbery and murder of the banker in Las Alidas. Later Selby gets a phone call and learns about Jim Lacey. The fingerprint evidence has startling facts. There is a conflict over the identification of John Burke's photographs. A broker in Los Angeles identifies the photographs as Allison Brown (Chapter x).

Inez Stapleton will defend James Lacey and Mrs. John Burke. The LA fingerprint men checked John Burke's home - the fingerprints there don't match the corpse (Chapter xi)! The events before the Grand Jury have dramatic highlights (Chapter xiii). Selby flies to Phoenix to investigate Lacey's background and finds an important clue (Chapter xiv). The case against Lacey seems wrapped up, but then Sylvia Martin tells Selby about a new witness (Chapter xv). This witness will testify about the identification if needed (Chapter xvi). The trial begins in Chapter xvii. The questioning of a witness is stopped by a surprise objection. Later reporter Sylvia Martin found another surprise witness for Doug Selby. Another witness shows up to repeat what he heard about Lacey's story. If Lacey hadn't first lied to Selby he would've been in the clear. But Selby suddenly asks for fingerprints on a cellophane package. This leads to a solution in Chapter xviii. The guilty person was found out, the innocence of the defendant established. A happy ending with justice. All the loose pieces of the puzzle now fit.

These novels echo Erle Stanley Gardner's 'Perry Mason' series. A lawyer who follows the facts to achieve his goal, aided by an investigator and a female newspaper reporter. The investigation finally uncovers the facts needed to solve the puzzle. [This series deserves reprinting.]

No serious reader who is interested in the circumstances of the assassination of John Kennedy and the subsequent murder of his assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, should miss this book which provides valuable insight into the motives of Oswald's killer, Jack Ruby, through the eyes of the trial judge; the statements made by Jack Ruby to the Warren Commission and during the course of Ruby's FBI polygraph examination.
Many readers will recall the hysteria which was created by these two murders which occurred in Dallas within 48 hours. Speculation immediately arose and persists today whether Oswald was the sole assassin and whether Jack Ruby killed Oswald to silence him, thereby protecting Oswald's alleged accomplices. There was also speculation that Oswald was the tool of a foreign government and/or whether Ruby was hired by those same interests to silence Oswald.
A reading of the Ruby interrogation conducted by Chief Justice Warren and former President Gerald Ford provides the reader with valuable clues to Ruby's motivations. Ruby's testimony appears to be somewhat self-serving, but his insistence on a polygraph to prove his truthfulness is noteworthy and the results are very interesting.
The editor drew on her vast research and experiences as a Dallas psychologist to provide the reader with the necessary background regarding the mood of Dallas and in the final analysis, that mood was the key element resulting in the appellate court reversal of the Ruby conviction.

A sad but true story about ayoung man who's life was ruined by the peer presures of todays young society. A young man who gave up his future over the pressure of todays youth culture's idea of respect.

I happenned across this gem in a used bookstore, attracted by the content and the combination of two major institutions in America- medicine and law.

Although this non-fiction account of a psychiatrist being sued by a patient for medical malpractice was written in the mid 80's, I found it informative and thought-provoking, especially in the areas of mental illness, psychotherapy, and courtroom tactics and techniques.

A graduate student filed suit against her psychiatrist after a suicide attempt resulted in major injuries requiring her to use a wheelchair for the rest of her life. The plaintiff contended her doctor's psychotherapy was ineffective in preventing her from trying to kill herself, thus asserting that psychiatrist, Sara C. Charles was negligent and liable for damages.

The plaintiff had been given a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), considered by many in the mental health field, one of the most difficult conditions to treat, let alone understand and describe to a judge and jury. It was a challenging and stimulating experience to read descriptions and rationale for the plaintiff's behavior, the treatment strategies used by Dr. Sara Charles, and the difficulty the plaintiff's lawyer had in grasping the dynamics and essential features of BPD.

THE DEFENDANT should whet the historical appetites of reflective mental health professionals. It can broaden the views of present day therapists if they compare and contrast the perceptions and treatment of BPD in 1985 to those of today. Interested readers can speculate how effective newer treatment approaches, such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy, would be. Would it have helped the plaintiff regulate her moods, tolerate her distress and develop her sense of self-acceptance? Would it have had enough impact to prevent the tragic results of the plaintiff's self-destructive communication of her emotional pain? Interesting questions indeed. Questions and subject matter that arise for many satisfied readers of the well-written and highly recommended DEFENDANT.

Excellent book. Contains the whole of Slobodan Milosevic's opening statement at The Hague War Crimes Tribunal. As the trial progressed it became increasingly apparent that there was no real evidence against Milosevic, and that the US financed and controlled tribunal were just attempting to justify their illegal bombing of Serbia in 1999. The case against Milosevic was unproven when he died in suspicious (to say the least!) circumstances in March this year. Now Kosovo is a basket case ( drug running Central!) and will only get worse if independence is granted. Please read this book to counteract the years of anti- Milosevic/Serb bias that you have been fed by the western media. THE TRUTH WILL OUT!

John Demanjuk was his the headlines when he was stripped of his citizenship and sent from America to Israel to stand trial for war crimes. It was thought that he was a prison guard known as "Ivan the Terrrible." This is the story of his trial and the appeals which followed it.

The writer is a Israeli Lawyer who had considerable experience in the use of identification evidence. He volunteered to assist with the representation of Demanjuk. Another lawyer from America had the major role in the trial.

The author is a man of considerable personal and moral courage. His decision to represent Demanjuk led to him being criticised heavily and he was also seriously assaulted. In this assault acid was thrown in his face and as a result he suffered permanent eye damage.

At trial Demanjuk was found guilty despite the strength of evidence being highly questionable. The author however was not satisfied with this outcome and went to Russia to research material to establish the innocence of his client.

This research showed clearly that the real "Ivan the Terrible" had died during the war . This occurred when prisoners rebelled and killed him. It was thus clear that not only was the evidence against Demanjuk questionable, but in reality he was clearly innocent.

Despite this the Israeli appeal court kept him in custody for some time deciding if it would find him guilty of an alternate charge of being a concentration camp guard at another camp. This was despite the fact that such a decision would have been questionable due to the nature of the extradition proceedings.

The book is not only the product of a brave and skilled lawyer it is a valuable illustration of the sorts of reasons why court cases can go wrong and the innocent punished. Highly recommended.