Synopses & Reviews
A searing manifesto on the ills of the criminal justice system from two of America’s most prominent defense attorneys.
The American legal system changed dramatically in 1994, when the O. J. Simpson trial became a television-ratings bonanza. Now it’s all crime, all the time, on TV, from tabloid news to police procedurals on every network. Americans know more about the criminal justice system than ever before. Or do they?
In Mistrial, Mark Geragos and Pat Harris argue precisely the opposite: In pursuit of sensationalism, the media shows the public only a small, distorted sample of what really happens in our courtrooms. So, ironically, the more the public thinks it knows, the less informed it really is.
Mistrial debunks the myth of impartial American justice and draws the curtain on its 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 before blogs, television, and O. J. Simpson is still viable today.
In the aftermath of the Casey Anthony trial, 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 to equally compelling cases defending individuals desperate to avoid the spotlight, and Mistrial’s behind-the-scenes peek at their most fascinating cases will enthrall legal eagles and armchair litigators alike—as it blows the lid on what really happens in a courtroom.
Review
"Mistrial is three books in one: a memoir of celebrity lawyers, a primer on how to handle high-profile cases and a diagnosis of the ills of the criminal-justice system.... A win: engaging, enlightening and entertaining.”
—David Lat, The Wall Street Journal
"Mistrial is the story of extraordinary careers as the go-to lawyers for the celebrated (or notorious, or both) defendant. Don't miss it!" —Jeffrey Toobin, New York Times bestselling author of The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court, legal affairs writer for The New Yorker, and senior legal analyst for CNN
“[Mark Geragos] is one of those rare lawyers recognizable everywhere.”
—Los Angeles Times
“[Geragos] is arguably the hottest defense lawyer of the moment.”
—Los Angeles Daily Journal
Review
"Mistrial is three books in one: a memoir of celebrity lawyers, a primer on how to handle high-profile cases and a diagnosis of the ills of the criminal-justice system.... A win: engaging, enlightening and entertaining.”
—David Lat, The Wall Street Journal
"Mistrial is the story of extraordinary careers as the go-to lawyers for the celebrated (or notorious, or both) defendant. Don't miss it!" —Jeffrey Toobin, New York Times bestselling author of The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court, legal affairs writer for The New Yorker, and senior legal analyst for CNN
“[Mark Geragos] is one of those rare lawyers recognizable everywhere.”
—Los Angeles Times
“[Geragos] is arguably the hottest defense lawyer of the moment.”
—Los Angeles Daily Journal
Synopsis
The New York Times bestseller and Book Sense 76 pick is now in paperback. This is the book by Whitewater warrior Susan McDougal that created a media sensation, with author appearances on Today, The O'Reilly Factor, Larry King, Crossfire, FOX Morning News, and The CBS Early Show; and a controversial review in The New York Times that generated chat all over the Internet, and the newspaper's own printed correction. Breaking her silence on the Whitewater affair and giving a moving portrait of what happens to women in American prisons, McDougal's book is a must-read for Americans of all political stripes and for everyone concerned about wrongful conviction and imprisonment. Black-and-white photographs are included.
Synopsis
A searing manifesto on the ills of the criminal justice system from two of America’s most prominent defense attorneys.
The American legal system changed dramatically in 1994, when the O. J. Simpson trial became a television-ratings bonanza. Now it’s all crime, all the time, on TV, from tabloid news to police procedurals on every network. Americans know more about the criminal justice system than ever before. Or do they?
In Mistrial, Mark Geragos and Pat Harris argue precisely the opposite: In pursuit of sensationalism, the media shows the public only a small, distorted sample of what really happens in our courtrooms. So, ironically, the more the public thinks it knows, the less informed it really is.
Mistrial debunks the myth of impartial American justice and draws the curtain on its 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 before blogs, television, and O. J. Simpson is still viable today.
In the aftermath of the Casey Anthony trial, 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 to equally compelling cases defending individuals desperate to avoid the spotlight, and Mistrial’s behind-the-scenes peek at their most fascinating cases will enthrall legal eagles and armchair litigators alike—as it blows the lid on what really happens in a courtroom.
Synopsis
A searing and entertaining manifesto on the ills of the criminal justice system from two of Americas 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 courts ugly realitiesfrom 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 Americas 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-circuseshaving represented clients like Michael Jackson, Winona Ryder, Scott Peterson, Chris Brown, Susan MacDougal, and Gary Conditto 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.
About the Author
Mark Geragos is the head of Geragos and Geragos, a Los Angeles-based law firm that focuses on both criminal and civil trial work. In his 30-plus year career, he has tried approximately 300 cases and has served as a regular legal analyst on CNN, Fox, and ABC shows. He lives in Los Angeles, California with his wife and two children.
Pat Harris is a leading criminal defense attorney and is a partner at Geragos and Geragos. He is a regular contributor on legal issues for shows on Fox and CNN, is the co-author of Susan McDougals New York Times bestselling memoir The Woman Who Wouldnt Talk, and speaks regularly at law schools across the country. He lives in Studio City, California with his wife.