Mistrial

A searing and entertaining manifesto on the ills of the criminal justice system from two of America’s most prominent defense attorneys. From the rise of the Internet and the 24-hour news cycle to the television ratings bonanza of the O.J. Simpson trial, a perfect storm of media coverage has given the public an unprecedented look inside the courtroom, kicking off popular courtroom shows and TV legal commentary that further illuminate how the criminal justice system operates. Or has it? In Mistrial, Mark Geragos and Pat Harris debunk the myths of judges as Solomon-like figures, jurors as impartial arbiters of the truth, and prosecutors as super-ethical heroes. Mistrial draws the curtain on the court’s ugly realities—from stealth jurors who secretly swing for a conviction, to cops who regularly lie on the witness stand, to defense attorneys terrified of going to trial. Ultimately, the authors question whether a justice system model drawn up two centuries ago before blogs and television is still viable today. In the aftermath of recent high-profile cases, the flaws in America’s justice system are more glaring than ever. Geragos and Harris are legal experts and prominent criminal defense attorneys who have worked on everything from celebrity media-circuses—having represented clients like Michael Jackson, Winona Ryder, Scott Peterson, Chris Brown, Susan MacDougal, and Gary Condit—to equally compelling cases defending individuals desperate to avoid the spotlight. Shining unprecedented light on what really goes on in the courtroom, Mistrial is an enjoyable, fun look at a system that rarely lets you see behind the scenes.

Tracy Kennedy served as a juror in the trial of O.J. Simpson. Dismissed from the Jury by Judge Lance A. Ito on March 17, 1995, Kennedy was at last able to walk away from the famed trial that has kept an entire nation spellbound. In Mistrial of the Century - A Private Diary of the Jury System on Trial, Tracy and his wife Judith, for the first time, recount their experiences as a part of one of the biggest legal battles in history. In Mistrial of the Century - A Private Diary of the Jury System on Trial, Kennedy finally discloses exactly what life was like for the couple in the days leading up to the trial, and how it differed so much from their expectations. In an up close and personal style, each of the Kennedys then reveals in detail what happened during the trial and sequestration, a sequestration that turned the lives of a normal, happily-married couple into an emotional hell. Finally, the book investigates the Kennedys' lives after Tracy's eventual dismissal from the jury, delving into the immense psychological impact the "Trial of the Century" has had on this couple and how they have chosen to deal with it.

The Model Rules of Professional Conduct provides an up-to-date resource for information on legal ethics. Federal, state and local courts in all jurisdictions look to the Rules for guidance in solving lawyer malpractice cases, disciplinary actions, disqualification issues, sanctions questions and much more. In this volume, black-letter Rules of Professional Conduct are followed by numbered Comments that explain each Rule's purpose and provide suggestions for its practical application. The Rules will help you identify proper conduct in a variety of given situations, review those instances where discretionary action is possible, and define the nature of the relationship between you and your clients, colleagues and the courts.

On October 26, 1961, after an evening of studying with friends on the campus of Transylvania University, nineteen-year-old student Betty Gail Brown got into her car around midnight—presumably headed for home. But she would never arrive. Three hours later, Brown was found dead in a driveway near the center of campus, strangled to death with her own brassiere. Kentuckians from across the state became engrossed in the proceedings as lead after lead went nowhere. Four years later, the police investigation completely stalled. In 1965, a drifter named Alex Arnold Jr. confessed to the killing while in jail on other charges in Oregon. Arnold was brought to Lexington, indicted for the murder of Betty Gail Brown, and put on trial, where he entered a plea of not guilty. Robert G. Lawson was a young attorney at a local firm when a senior member asked him to help defend Arnold, and he offers a meticulous record of the case in Who Killed Betty Gail Brown? During the trial, the courtroom was packed daily, but witnesses failed to produce any concrete evidence. Arnold was an alcoholic whose memory was unreliable, and his confused, inconsistent answers to questions about the night of the homicide did not add up. Since the trial, new leads have come and gone, but Betty Gail Brown's murder remains unsolved. A written transcript of the court proceedings does not exist; and thus Lawson, drawing upon police and court records, newspaper articles, personal files, and his own notes, provides an invaluable record of one of Kentucky's most famous cold cases.

The Federal Criminal Procedure Litigation Manual 2015 is designed to assist the busy litigator, prosecutor and judge in understanding the application of the rules in situations that recur in federal criminal trials. The work is up to date reflecting the latest changes and amendments to the Federal Rules along with the latest and most significant cases. The Federal Criminal Procedure Litigation Manual provides a thorough, yet concise, analysis of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. The manual sets out the official text of each rule, followed by a short commentary that focuses on the key issues for each rule. Numbered section headings facilitate quick reference to the pertinent commentary. "Practice Tips" are also included throughout the commentary. The manual provides balanced practice pointers, for both the prosecutor and the defense counsel. Following the commentary, the reader will find lists of additional references. Anyone who has practiced in federal court understands that while the rules of procedure are an important starting point, there are many federal statutes that may have an impact on the trial. Thus, the manual lists selected federal statutes following the commentary. The text also includes references to two leading treatises on the subject of the federal rules of criminal procedure, and where appropriate, to treatises on the federal rules of evidence. Finally, the authors have briefly noted selected leading federal cases that should provide a helpful starting point for further research.