No comments about Raphael Lemkin and the Struggle for the Genocide Convention.

No comments about Democracy without Citizens: Media and the Decay of American Politics.

1 comments about Mulligan's Law: The Wit and Wisdom of William Hughes Mulligan.

1. Many thanks to Bill Mulligan, Jr. for this collection of his father's speeches.

   Bill Mulligan, Sr. was a great man, famous in a certain circle, and now he may be known to others through his own words, in saecula, saeculorum. The medium is humor, the message extols family, faith, and friendship, with amusing and enlightening digressions on history, the Law, the Irish, and more.

   Mulligan, Jr.'s moving introduction and eulogy complete the portrait. Perhaps eloquence is hereditary.

   "Mulligan's Law" is a treat for students of rhetoric and law, and and must for historians researching the history and values of Catholics and the Irish in America.

No comments about Champion of Civil Rights: Judge John Minor Wisdom (Southern Biography Series).

3 comments about CCB: The Life and Century of Charles C. Burlingham, New York's First Citizen, 1858-1959.

1. Mr. Burlingham deserves the serious and engaging review of his contributions to American society so adroitly recounted by George Martin. This book is absolutely terrific. And the question we must ask is are there any CCB's to be found in the future of America? We need them.



2. I began reading this long political biography because the author is a personal friend. At first, I thought I would skim the book but by page 200 it had become a real page-turner. It was so well-written and researched and dealt with such fascinating subjects--including the downfall of Tammany Hall and the rise of Fiorello Laguardia. Burlingham was influential in both events and his long (101-year!) life overlapped with those of many other historical figures whom he influenced and whose influence, like his, continues to be felt today. A great feast for the mind!



3. This extraordinary book, at once scholarly and a good read, not only delights and informs its readers, but links them with the century of Burlingham's life and the people who made it what it was. Its author's careful research, wide sympathies, and grasp of what makes people and societies act the way they do illuminates the history of the man, the city, and the times.

1 comments about Moments in Time: (True Stories of the United States Postal Inspectors).

1. Moments in Time: True Stories of the United States Postal InspectorsThe stories were both attention getting and informative. I truly enjoyed the book and wish there were more stories of this group who very few people know. You get your mail everyday and once in a while you go to the post office, but not once do you consider that the post office is a target for robbers. Great Book!!!

2 comments about Legal Spectator & More.

1. I've been reading Jacob Stein's essays for many years in the Washington Lawyer. He has put many of his favorites in this very enjoyable book (you can also see many of his essays on the web).

   Not all of the essays are about lawyers directly, but most relate to Washington, DC and all are based on his experiences, ranging from literature, through "An Evening with Louis Armstrong" to popular culture.

   This is a great gift for anyone who loves the law, Washington, or good writing by a Washington raconteur.




2. "Writing in the first person and sounding very much the after-dinner raconteur, Stein tells stories that connect lawyers to their ups, downs, fears, quirks, ironies, history, and even such unlikely subjects as the French Impressionists. What is so refreshing is that, unlike other big-name lawyers in Stein's elevated loft, he is ever the self-effacing narrator and eschews any mention of his own courtroom triumphs. ... What makes this collection so fascinating is that it is not limited to lawyers, judges and courtrooms. Indeed, Stein treats us to a delightful series of essays about such figures as Bing Crosby, Peter Arno, Franz Kafka, George M. Cohan, Somerset Maugham, Winston Churchill, and Ernest Hemingway."
   
   -- Peter D. Baird, Litigation, Fall 2004

2 comments about William M. Kunstler.

1. Stand-up comedy is not in the index of this book, but it gets mentioned. Along with a list of Kunstler's film credits is a note that when he tried a comedy routine, he got his biggest laugh for a lawyer joke. I was interested, a long time ago, in what Chapter 6 of this book calls Circus in Chicago. Back when I was contemplating what I might like to do in a career in law, I would have enjoyed the opportunity to generate the number of laughs that are contained in this book. Then I actually found a case that said "Resort to the courts is futile." That was such a change from my expectations that an element of humor creeps into my appreciation of the outrageous nature of that truth. As evidence that the author of this book is aware of the potent nature of that form of humor, picture this: "Kunstler objected. The United States attorney jumped up and argued, 'This is outrageous. This man [Kunstler] is the mouthpiece for these defendants. The Government protests this man's attitude.'" (p. 124) I thought that the best legal point in the book was that Bobby Seale could not be retried on the conspiracy charge after the jury found that the other seven defendants were not guilty of conspiracy. Seale hadn't been charged with anything else, so further proceedings in his case would have been pointless. If there is a fine line between legal logic and the quirks of the system, check this book for the side of the line where the quirks are, and maybe you have already seen bits and pieces of this story on TV. It sure made the newpapers when it was going on.



2. I don't support many of Kunstler's views, outrageous statements and his representation of many of his criminal clients. The courage of civil rights movement lawyers was beyond powerful and Kunstler got involved with the Freedom Rider's case which ignited his fiery passion to be a radical lawyer . Author David J. Langum is a smart story teller because I was entertained when I wasn't being shocked. I had to laugh when he writes about the amount of mail the Chicago 7 received including a letter with some pot which Kunstler and his clients smoked together. Kunstler had unconventional boundaries with clients and Langum has some interesting theories on why. This book did not turn me into a Kunstler admirer but Langum made me think hard about "conveying a message/education to the public" using "movement law". I live in the East Village and we have been mega dormed to death by NYU and even NY Law with a zone busting mega dorm "with balconies" for law students on 3rd St. and my point is these law students seem to care more about their balcony views than what is going down in the communities that are being gobbled up by their Universities. I would like the zone busting part of NY Law dorm removed and everyone of those students to do volunteer work for the evictions and struggles caused by their Universities and other greedy landlords exploiting our neighborhoods. I doubt the NY Law students would do so and those balconies are more enticing but it would be interesting to hear what Kunstler might have said about all this since Langum mentions that he taught at NY Law and William M. Kunstler, I am guessing, also loved our neighborhood with all the texture and characters (although we are losing both every day). I would like to think he would have tried to help. P342 Langum does write, "Kunstler worried especially about the young people, their materalism and lack of social activism." I would add "institutions of higher learning" like NYU and NY Law with their community crushing mega dorms are encouraging anything but students with passion for social activism.
   I am surprised Oliver Stone hasn't made one of his three hours long films from this book but I wouldn't go see the film; the book was enough and "fair" with lots of grey tones that would not make it into the movie version. There are many ironic notes in this book and for me the most ironic is the back cover which says New York University Press.

No comments about To Punish and Protect: Against a System That Coddles Criminals.

2 comments about A Matter of Law: A Memoir of Struggle in the Cause of Equal Rights.

1. When reading about the history of the NAACP's and the Legal Defense Fund's struggle for human rights, we tend to hear more about Thurgood Marshall and not enough about Robert Carter, who was a integral part of the fight. After many years, Robert Carter has shared his perspective with us.
   
   Tales from Carter's childhood and schooling are simply stated. Given the discrimination and hardship with which he grew up, these tales are more aptly labeled, "simply understated. His accomplishments through adversity are clearly laudable, but we don't get all the detail we would hope for. He does discuss a falling out between Marshall and him, and he also discusses grabs for power as Thurgood left. However, we don't get this level of detail on the cases.
   
   Regardless of the level of detail, this is a very informative read. I would recommend that anyone wanting to know more about our continuing struggle with civil rights should read this book.



2. Judge Robert Carter gives a blow by blow account of the legal fronts of the civil rights struggle: the personalities involved, the infighting among them, the battles won, lost, and nearly neglected. Brown v. Board is well-told elsewhere, while other struggles receive overdue attention (e.g., the battle for the NAACP to preserve its member lists from scrutiny by officials striving to break the organization's back).
   
   Carter perceives himself as the uncharismatic technocrat of the struggle, an unheralded leader in a fight who was unceremoniously jettisoned from its core despite his impressive contributions.
   Accordingly, his account is that of a dutiful documentarian, rather than a labor of love, and the writing suffers for a dearth of passion.