No comments about Sir Matthew Hale, 1609-1676: Law, Religion and Natural Philosophy (Cambridge Studies in Early Modern British History).

5 comments about A. LINCOLN, ESQUIRE.

1. I liked the mixture of Abraham Lincoln's law cases with his politics and activities within the society of his time. He handled all types of cases and was not a hick lawyer. I was surprised to learn that he defended slave owners despite his opposition to slavery itself. Furthermore, I learned that Lincoln handled medical malpractice and sexually-related slander cases. I highly recommend this book to historians, medical professionals and the general public. Read it and enjoy it!



2. A. Lincoln Esquire: A Shrewd, Sophisticated Lawyer In His Time by Allen D. Spiegel (Professor of Medicine and Community Health, State University of New York Health science Center, Brooklyn, New York) is a unique study of an often overlooked aspect of the President who saw America through the Civil War. Studying Abraham Lincoln as a lawyer, A. Lincoln Esquire focuses upon his tireless work as a dedicated litigator facing down a tremendous caseload. Exhaustively researched for ten years, filled with legal papers as primary sources and presenting more than sixty of Lincoln's cases, A. Lincoln Esquire is a truly astounding portrait of a great legal mind - whose far-reaching career in the court of law was curtailed only by the higher calling of the nation at large. A. Lincoln Esquire is a seminal, ground breaking Lincoln biography, and a highly recommended addition to academic and community library collections.



3. Many people believe that Abraham Lincoln was just a hick lawyer. This book cites more than 60 cases and shows that Lincoln was a top notch shrewd, sophisticated lawyer. In addition, Lincoln took on all types of cases and earned a good iving. He represemterd a slave owner even though he opposed the idea of slavery. He defended people accussed of murder and he prosecuted murderers. He represented corporations and he handled many individual bad debt cases. It was particularly interesting to read about Lincoln's daily mixture of law, politics and activities in the society of his time. For the first time, this book uses newly discovered legal documents about Lincoln's practice and the author describes cases that were previously unknown. There is a large mass of references and a substantial bibliography - about 40 pages of material. If lincoln had not been elected president, there is no doubt that he would have become one of the leading lawyers in the nation. Obviously, lawyers will enjoy this book along with historians and the general public. I heartedly recommend this book.



4. Like everything else concerning Lincoln's life, his law practice has acquired the patina of legend over the years. Mr. Spiegel's book does an excellent job of dispelling myths and presenting Lincoln as a well respected attorney with a thriving practice. The strongest part of the book are the introductory materials and the first two chapters. Lincoln is shown to be willing to argue any side of a case based on his clients' needs. In a case where two men had a monetary dispute Lincoln was hired by one man for the trial and by the other man during the appeal. Reamrks about the difficulty assessing an attorney's effectiveness based on the won-loss record are well considered.
   However, later chapters seem somewhat unfocused. The author adds interesting tidbits unrelated to the topic and outside the time of Lincoln's practice. I had hoped that a ten year research project would focus more extensively on his actual practice. Still, this is a good reference for scholars and Lincoln "buffs."



5. As a physician I looked forward to reading this, but it is poorly organized, written and edited. The author bounces back and forth within a chapter. I expected a straight discourse on each case instead there was a mishmash. For example in one chapter I thought he was going to discuss two malpractice cases that Lincoln defended. Instead there is an eassay on Medical Malpractice from 1830s through the 1850s. In another chapter about a malpractice on a broken leg that was not set as the patient wanted, there is a three page discourse on all the medical literature that Lincoln COULD have used. IN the end the case was setteld, but then we never find out the particulars of the settlement, why it was settled or such.Overall a major disappointment for me.

No comments about Journal of a Country Lawyer: Crime Sin and Damn Good Fun.

1 comments about The Family Letters of Louis D. Brandeis.

1. The editors of this volume, Urofsky and Levy, have edited 6 previous volumes of Brandeis letters: 5 volumes of general business related correspondence and one volume of letters between LDB and Frankfurter (particularly interesting in light of the allegations of improper conduct made in Bruce Alen Murphy's "The Brandeis/Frankfurter Connection"). This volume is somewhat different, in that it concentrates upon Brandeis' correspondence with family members, principally his wife, two daughters and brother Alfred. The value of the collection is to afford another insight into Brandeis the man, and it certainly fills that bill. The editors have maintained the outstanding quality of their previous volumes in terms of annotations and explanations of LDB's sometimes ambiguous references, including quotes in German. The most interesting aspect I discovered was that LDB, who never cracked a joke in the previous 6 volumes, and was always somewhat formal and withdrawn, continues to manifest these traits in his family letters. I guess he was just all business, though obviously a loving and attentive parent. A valuable addition to the literature on LDB.

No comments about Thunder Over Zion: The Life and Times of Chief Judge Willis W Ritter.

2 comments about Slaying Dragons: The Truth Behind the Man Who Defended Paula Jones.

1. John Whitehead comes through as a real person with a not so promising background who emerges as a "bigger than life" Christian man. He truly makes one believe that with God all things are possible. Not only do we learn the truth about Paula Jones, but he also has met Clinton, Dobson, Jim Bakker, Jerry Falwell, Anita Hill, Pat Robertson, Randall Terry, etc, etc. And, though the book is not about her, I am equally enthralled with his wife, Carol. What a woman! She should write her own book about her life with John and how she perservered. You will be fascinated about John Whitehead's "conversion story."



2. FROM A CHILD TO A MATURE MAN JOHN WHITEHEAD SHOWS STRENGTH AND INDEPENDENT THINKING. HIS COLLEGE REALTIONSHIP WITH A FUTURE JUDGE AND PRESIDENT GAVE HIM A PRIVY INSIGHT INTO WHAT MAKES THESE PEOPLE TICK.........I VERY MUCH ADMIRE JOHNS WIFE CAROL WHO BELIEVES AND SUPPORTS JOHN AND MOST OF HIS DECISIONS, NO MATTER WHAT, SHE IS HIS GREATEST FAN. I HAVE NOTICED HOW WE CHRISTIANS ARE APATHETIC, LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, REFUSE TO STAND UP AND SPEAK OUT, HOWEVER THIS CHRISTMAS WAS UNDER TOTAL ATTACK AND THIS CHRISTIAN IS WIDE AWAKE, HOWEVER, IT TOOK AN ATTACK ON THE HOLLIDAY I LOVE MOST CHRISTMAS TO SPEAK OUT.........A GREAT BOOK, EDUCATIONAL IN FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, ADVENTEROUS AND SHOWS A VERY TIGHT AND LOVEABLE FAMILY................

1 comments about The Southern Judicial Tradition: State Judges and Sectional Distinctiveness, 1790-1890 (Studies in the Legal History of the South).

1. Fascinating, compelling, thought-provoking

3 comments about Stand Tall.

1. This book was recommended to me by friends in Michigan and it should be on everyone's bookshelf. Ike McKinnon's story is one of perseverence, dedication, and an incredible ability to remain above the fray and disease of society. It's pure inspiration to read about his life and how he rose above everything, not letting himself become tainted, to help people, help clean up the city of Detroit, and help straighten out its police department. It's motivational, inspiring, and Oprah should know about it!



2. I recommend this wonderful book for anybody who wants to become a police officer, especially African Americans and other minorities interested in this field. Dr. McKinnon does an excellent job with expressing his feelings about his experiences with the Detroit Police Department, racism, and why it was important for him to join the Detroit Police Department. Dr. McKinnon's book is a true defition of the American dream (especially for minorities) and I guarantee this book will inspire you to follow your dreams regardless of how tough it gets! I've met Dr. McKinnon once and I hope to meet him again so he can autograph my book. Get your copy today!



3. "Stand Tall" was probably the most self-serving autobiography I've ever read. On every other page of the book, McKinnon heroically battles racism. Somehow, with the institutional racism rampant in the Detroit Police Department, McKinnon manages to work as a patrol officer for only about 2 years. As a matter of fact, only about 20 pages of the book are dedicated to his patrol career.

   One telling story involved McKinnon chasing a man who ran away from a stolen car. McKinnon chases the man into an apartment building, and through the door of an apartment. The next thing he knows, he's staring down the barrels of automatic weapons being wielded by a nest of Black Panthers. McKinnon grabs his prisoner and backs out of this Mexican standoff to admonitions of "Be cool man.." from the leader of the Panthers. When he gets outside, a bunch of neighbors come out of their houses and form a protective circle around McKinnon and the prisoner to escort them out of harm's way. Touching. However, what the book doesn't address is what McKinnon did about the group of dangerous men armed with automatic weapons who just pointed them at a police officer! He probably had no case on the guy who ran away from the stolen car (he wasn't driving) but it looks like he chose to take THAT guy to jail rather than call in reinforcements to arrest a bunch of armed and dangerous felony suspects! Later in the book, McKinnon talks about a cop who was killed by the Black Panthers. I had to wonder if the Panther who killed him was one of the guys McKinnon let go.

   Within 2 years of being hired, McKinnon is assigned to a "gravy" job at Recruiting. Shortly after that, he's working directly for the mayor. Thus begins his meteoric rise to the top. "Stand Tall" is a cream-puff of a book that offers a detailed look at every positive aspect of McKinnon's career. It doesn't even pay lip service to any of the negative aspects that could conceivably cause him to be viewed in a negative light. For instance; why did McKinnon quit as chief of police in the middle of his friend and "homey" (his words, not mine) Dennis Archer's term as mayor? Did he just wake up one day and decide "Well, it's time for me to do something else. I think I'll bail out on Homey in the middle of his term." Or was there another reason? I guess we'll have to wait for someone else's biography to learn the answer to that one.

   The Detroit Police Department has a long-standing practice of arresting witnesses to crimes, especially homicides, with no probable cause that they did anything wrong, in order to intimidate them into providing information that they would not otherwise provide. Earlier in his career, McKinnon takes a dim view of arresting people in the absence of probable cause. However, as Chief, he lets the practice continue. Could it be that he's willing to sanction the violation of citizens' constitutional rights if it would help raise the DPD's dismally low clearance rate for homicides? I don't know, he never addresses the issue.

   McKinnon takes credit for everything he possibly can with virtually no mention of the efforts of his subordinates. The local media plays a bigger part in the book than the people who back him up as chief.

   McKinnon appears to take credit for personally solving the Nancy Kerrigan case. After the figure skater is bopped on the knee, Ike eventually asks her father where she is. He valiantly checks the pool in case the bad guys try to drown her, and the outside of the Westin Hotel in case someone tries to push her off a steep incline. He finally finds her in the last place he looks (her hotel room). McKinnon refers to the Kerrigan case as "an international story, the likes of which Detroit has never seen". Detroit had the Collingwood massacre of Purple Gang members, a nationally televised beating of suburban women by Detroit residents at the International Fireworks downtown, a former police chief who embezzled millions, status as "murder capitol" for several years, but a figure skater who gets assaulted is a story the likes of which the city has never seen? Sure.

   McKinnon leaves no truth unadulterated in his quest for hyperbole and melodrama. He describes the Rodney King beating as a case where police officers beat King while he was on the ground with a chain around his neck. A chain around his neck? He describes Detroit's own "Rodney King" incident as a situation where Malice Green was beaten by police officers and died right there in the street. Also not true. It's a point of pride with him that he saw to it that his officers were issued pepper spray after the Malice Green incident. Pretty proactive of Dr. McKinnon to wait until someone dies to equip his officers with something that other officers all over the state have had for years. I eagerly await "Stand Tall Part Deux" to read "the rest of the story".

No comments about William Wayne Justice: A Judicial Biography.

1 comments about John Archibald Campbell: Southern Moderate, 1811-1889.

1. John Archibald Campbell's life and political philosophy illustrate the difficulties that Southern moderates faced in developing and implementing a solution to the problems of slavery and secession. Campbell opposed both slavery and secession. Campbell's legal gifts eventually led him to practice before the United States Supreme Court and subsequently to an appointment to the Supreme Court itself. During his service on the Supreme Court Campbell opposed the Filibusterers in the New Orleans region, wrote a concurring opinion in the Dred Scot case, and rejected nullification by the courts of Wisconsin. As a moderate Campbell was vilified by both Southern fire-eaters and Abolitionist radicals. Campbell served eight years (1853-1861) on the Supreme Court before resigning to become an assistant secretary in the Confederate War Department. After the war he practiced law in New Orleans where he eventually became the lead attorney in the Slaughterhouse Case. His views in this case prepared the way for the broad interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment in the Twentieth Century. This book gives a very solid story of the life and labors of an important lawyer of the 19th Century. This political biography is the first full life of John Archibald Campbell. It will be of great use to students of the Supreme Court, American history, and legal scholars as well as those who enjoy good biography. It belongs in most libraries.