1 comments about Jack's Law: The Rise and Fall of Renegade Judge Jack Montgomery.

1. "Jack's Law" is a well written documentation of corruption and abuse within the judicial system. Written with the precision of an investigative reporter, Steve Joynt provides the reader with a factual basis for the inevitible conclusion to a corrupt public official.

   Steve's research into his subject begins with details of Montgomery's early childhood and continue through a lifetime devoted to deception and self grandeur that led to his eventual downfall and death.

   Well worth reading, particularly for anyone interested in the backrooms of "justice".

No comments about Brandeis and the Progressive Constitution: Erie, the Judicial Power, and the Politics of the Federal Courts in Twentieth-Century America.

No comments about Judge Frank Johnson and Human Rights in Alabama.

No comments about Justice James Iredell.

No comments about The Papers of John Marshall: Vol. XI: Correspondence, Papers, and Selected Judicial Opinions, April 1827 - December 1830.

No comments about Baltic Winds: Testimony of a Soviet Attorney.

5 comments about On My Honor The Beliefs That Shape My Life.

1. I could not put this book down! I found this book to be a fascinating insight into the U.S. Attorney General.

   The book lets the reader see how John Ashcroft's life was shaped by his father and his own personal faith. In light of the United State's war on terrorism, I found it very comforting to learn that Ashcroft, one of America's leaders in that war, is grounded on a foundation of ethics, morals, and integrity.




2. I probably shouldn't publicly criticize the neo-J Edgar Hoover, but what the heck, I'm feeling brave! (kinda, since I clicked the anonymous button on my review!) This purpose of this review is to spark debate about the fusion of Jerry Falwell and J Edgar Hoover (as Julian Bond so eloquently put it), aka John Ashcroft. Scientists have successfully bonded religious fanaticism with Orwellian tactics. The result is our attny. general. A man who speaks at Bob Jones University, praising their "values" (segregation, racism, and general intolerance). Now don't get me wrong, he is allowed to believe whatever he wants to believe, he has that right as a citizen of the United States. But, his beliefs make him extremely bias, therefore should not be allowed to hold a position that requires TOTAL neutrality. (I know, Reno wasn't a star either in regards to Waco and Ruby Ridge, and the other Clinton DoJ foul ups). But the new DoJ is 10x worse. One of the most important (if not the most important) positions of power is that of Attorney General. This person holds OUR civil liberties in their hands, they are entrusted not to abuse the power given to them. Ashcroft has abused those powers. It may not seem like it right now, but history will look back on Ashcroft's actions and label him as a tyrant. What is scary is that he thinks he is right, that he has direct contact with God, and that he does God's bidding ... . Keep in mind that Ashcroft and Bin Laden are one in the same, both give their respective religions a bad name. Some non-Christian may hear Ashcroft spitting gross intolerances towards other cultures and think that all Christians are like him. Just as we see Bin Laden murder innocent civilians in the name of Islam, we think all Muslims are blood thirsty psychos. To those who share Ashcroft's beliefs, sorry to offend you, but people with your beliefs have no place in public service. As a free country we must keep zealots out of government. People with extreme (be it left of right) views have no right to dictate extreme policy to a public that is mostly moderate. That is called tyranny of the minority. Democracy rests on the principal of tyranny of the majority.



3. This is a good primer on how to lie to the public and still try to look good.



4. The Attorney General is honest in sharing his Christian worldview and how it shapes his decisions. He takes readers through a chronology of his life, however he doesn't spend a lot of time on details. What he does is highlight the major impact his dad had on his life. A significant amount of the book discusses the principles he learned from his dad and how he applied them to his own life. This intangible legacy, the legacy of Christian faith is one that has cause him to say he cares more about his eternal reputation rather than his place in history (which is temporal). There are some mundane matters his dad passed on to him as well, such as suggesting that he always dress for a position above the one he currently held to create the proper image. Overall this book provides an insight into the thinking of the author.



5. On the first day of his Senate confirmation hearings, John Ashcroft raised his right hand and vowed, "I swear to unhold the laws of the United States of America, so help me God".
   
   On the second day, after confirmation, he broke that oath...
   
   So goes the life of John "trustworthy" Ashcroft.

No comments about Indomitable Sarah: The Life of Judge Sarah T. Hughes.

5 comments about Eliot Ness: The Real Story.

1. Heimel's first book was good, this one was excellent. Even if you're not a crime-fighing history buff, this chronology of Ness' life strikes an optimistic cord concerning what ultimately matters in life. Ness made plenty of mistakes in his life, but the testimony to man's efforts at doing the right thing is inspirational. He was not the person Hollywood portrayed him to be, but in some sense, he was much, much, more. This second edition is full of new information and insight. Just as you may find that the "professional" movie critics reviews didn't jibe with how you felt about a movie, you'll most likely come to the same conclusion about this book. Read it yourself. It's well worth the effort!



2. Eliot Ness was a legendary lawman in the twenties and thirties. But entertaining as they are, the various Untouchables movies and television shows don't paint an accurate picture of him.

   And The Untouchables (by Ness and Oscar Fraley) and Four Against the Mob (by Fraley) tell part of the story, but leave a lot of detail out, including just about any unflattering pieces.

   Heimel's book is the first true attempt at an unbiased look at Ness' life. And have no doubt, Eliot Ness did some amazing things in law enforcement. His time as Cleveland's Public Safety Director is more episode-filled than his Chicago days. As of 2003, there is not a better book out there on Eliot Ness.




3. The second edtion uncovers more information about Ness, disputing those who dismiss his exploits in helping the Treasury Dept. smash Capone's empire. It also disputes those rumors that he was a drunk. The real man is shown here with all his humanness and surprise, he's doesn't come up short. He finally gets the consideration he deserves as a lawman.



4. Paul W. Heimel has done a superb job of uncovering and relating the life and times of Eliot Ness, including the role that he and his team of "Untouchables" played in the destruction of Al Capone. Ness was a far more interesting and complex individual than the Hollywood characterizations of him. He was every bit as honest, diligent, and hard-working as his fictional counterpart, but also flawed in terribly human ways. The reader comes away with a deeper understanding of a very real, ultimately tragic human being. Heimel knows how to tell a story well and captures Ness's fascinating life without bogging the tale down in minutia. He provides clear images of Capone and a host of other characters, including FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. The paranoid, delusional "G Man" was a neurotic tyrant who could not stomach Ness getting any publicity or credit, no matter how deserved, because he believed it upstaged him and his agency. Ness even merited one of Hoover's many secret files. Indeed, Ness seems to have been harmed by his own success in destroying crooked cops, politicians, and labor thugs, which inevitably made him enemies. His own inability to convert his exemplary public service into business or political success reveals him as all-too human. His final years, and the lack of any material reward for his deeds, are both moving and tragic. This is a real slice of Americana without any glamorization. Heimel deserves our gratitude for rescuing a wonderful man from both near-obscurity and horrible distortion.



5. This has to be the definitive book on the subject of legendary crimefighter Eliot Ness. It's quite a story and is obviously well researched and written with an exacting and engaging style. If being the leader of THE UNTOUCHABLES alone, was enough excitement and fame for someone like Ness. He goes on to tackle other crime and even get into business ventures that prooved to be far ahead of their time.
   
   Eliot Ness never lived to see his story portrayed on TV or the movies.
   Shortly before his death, he did receive a $1,000 advance from his book titled THE UNTOUCHABLES co-written by his sportswriter friend Oscar Fraley. That was the only money the honest lawman ever got from his fame as the G-Man who took on gangster Al Capone. And long before Hollywood was playing with the truth or simply taking poetic license. Ness or more precisely Fraley, had built up the gangbusting exploits to almost the same level of American hero mythology as Wyatt Earp. Actor Robert Stack who to millions the world over was Eliot Ness, could always be seen each week shooting it out with the bad guys. Whereas the real Ness, only fired his gun once to gain entry to an illegal brewery by shooting the lock off. In 1959, at a time when there were already 48 TV westerns on the air, ABC's Desilu produced show THE UNTOUCHABLES was really a western itself. The most violent show on television and naturally it was highly rated.
   
   Just like in a typical Hollywood western, when the good towns people hire a lawman to rid their streets of crime and then finding that he's done such a good job that business starts to suffer. Well thats what happens to Ness when this book chronicles his career in Cleveland. Not as skilled at dealing with politicians as he was with crooks (that is if there is a difference), his life goes into decline and becomes an American tragedy.
   Author Paul Heimel remembers him well though and indeed the true story of Eliot Ness warrants a more respectful Hollywood tribute than just the rattle of "tommy-guns" shooting up a still.

1 comments about What Measure Ye Mete: The Life and Times of Judge Halsted Ritter.

1. On p. 85, second full paragraph, the words in [brackets] should be deleted: "Except for Minton, all of the Senators who voted to acquit Ritter on [one of] the first six articles also voted to acquit him on the seventh article."