Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business/Economics    3. Civil Procedure    4. Commercial law    5. Contracts    6. General    7. Handbooks, manuals, etc    8. Legal Profession    9. Legal Reference / Law Profession    10. Legal assistants    11. Paralegals & Paralegalism    12. United States    13. Business & Economics / General    14. Contract law    15. USA   

Reviews (30)

Interesting, but lacking
I was very much looking forward to reading this book.But I must say that from the first chapter I was disappointted with the writing.The book reads like a string of unrelated newspaper articles or diary entries.There is no underling arc that ties all of the little stories together.
The best book on the Supreme Court out there.
This may possibly be the best book ever written in regards to the US Supreme Court.Opening with the end of the Warren Court, Woodward and Armstrong go on to describe the Burger Court from 1969-1975.Talking at length about Abortion, the Nixon case, and the Death Penalty, as well as giving great insight into the minds of the 9 men who interpret the nation's constitution.An amazing book, everyone should read it.

A Classic History of the Burger Court
I have just re-read this book, which I first enjoyed while I was taking Con Law in law school in the late 1970s.It is a little dated, but still a fun and well-written insider's story of the workings of the U.S. Supreme Court.Woodward and Armstrong write with an "inside the beltway" politically-correct perspective which may seem a little dated today.That's one feature that stands out.When it was originally released, Jimmy Carter was just being elected President, and the Congress was 2/3 Democratic.The political battlegrounds have changed in a generation.However, judicially, not as much as you might expect.Many key issues - abortion, free expression, and the role and limits of government, e.g., - continued through Rehnquist's term as Chief and still face the Roberts court.While today's Court line-up is more conservative, the process of internal court politics is certainly similar, so this book remains useful in attempting to understand both the history of the Court when it issued so many of those decisions that still drive politicians mad today, and how the often convoluted opinions on divisive issues are formed.
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Subjects:  1. Courts - General    2. History - U.S.    3. History: World    4. Law    5. Legal System    6. U.S. Supreme Court    7. United States - General    8. History / General   

Reviews (13)

An excellent reference
It is difficult to say whether the contentious atmosphere that currently exists regarding the legal opinions of the Supreme Court is greater than any other time in the history of the United States. There have been times, especially during the Civil War and World War I when the Supreme Court raised the ire of many a citizen. Some of the "activist" justices, as some of them are now called, could perhaps be designated as "activist light" if compared with some of the justices of the past. This book gives ample evidence for this comparison, but also gives information on a wide variety of legal issues that the Supreme Court has had to deal with throughout its history. It would probably not be read from cover to cover, but instead serves as a general reference for those readers who are not and do not intend to become legal scholars, but are curious as to the reasoning patterns deployed by the justices who sat on the Court. Readers who are approaching this subject for the first time will find many surprises about the Court, both in the opinions expressed by the judges and in their personal histories and backgrounds. It is fair to say that legal opinions are guided predominantly by the historical context in which they are put forth, and this claim seems to gain more substantiation as more articles in this book are read and studied.
Massive tome on the Supreme Court.
_The Oxford Companion to the United States Supreme Court of the United States_(Kermit Hall, ed.) is a massive tome containing a vast swath of information: cases, traditions, theories of constitutional interpretations, historical events, and biographies of all of the Supreme Court Justices.It has the same material (word for word) as Kermit Hall's _The Oxford Guide to United States Supreme Court Decisions_ but this is much more worthwhile reference work because it contains more contextual material than the cases themselves.This book is by no means exhaustive, but it provides a very informative overview of what the Supreme Court has been up to for the past two hundred years and the very different personalities serving on the body.

A worthy companion
As the nation prepares to welcome the seventeenth Chief Justice, this book is a wonderful guide to the processes of the least 'media-exposed' branch of the federal government and its highest institution, the Supreme Court.
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Subjects:  1. Courts - Supreme Court    2. Encyclopedias    3. Essays    4. Federal Jurisdiction    5. Government - Federal    6. Law    7. Legal Reference / Law Profession    8. Reference    9. Supreme Court    10. United States    11. United States.    12. Comparative law    13. Constitutional & administrative law    14. Courts & procedure    15. Law / Reference    16. Law | Legal History    17. Laws of Other Jurisdictions & General Law    18. USA   

Reviews (2)

Im the Chief now
Great Book. Hard to read at times on mids, but now Im the CHief....Good Luck

Good read
I was tasked with reading this for a promotional test.It has lots of good infomation and makes for an easy read.Some of the chapters contain too much information making it difficult to retain but overall a good resource. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Criminal Law - General    2. Law    3. Leadership    4. Management - General    5. Personnel management    6. Police    7. Policy    8. Political Freedom & Security - Law Enforcement    9. Politics / Current Events    10. United States    11. Crime & criminology    12. Law / Criminal Procedure    13. Personnel & human resources management    14. Police & security services   

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business/Economics    3. Civil procedure    4. General    5. Handbooks, manuals, etc    6. Legal Profession    7. Legal Reference / Law Profession    8. Legal assistants    9. Litigation    10. Paralegals & Paralegalism    11. United States    12. Business & Economics / General    13. Commercial law    14. Legal skills & practice    15. USA   

Reviews (4)

Seminal work from late scholar
One of the most cited Constitutional law scholars in legal history, John Hart Ely's book was published in 1980. The book, which earned the Order of the Coif award as the best book about law published from 1980 to 1982, focused on the role of the U.S. Supreme Court in interpreting the Constitution. He wrote that the judiciary's role was to assure democracy with an open and fair political process - without focusing solely on the original intent of the drafters of the Constitution, or inferring moral rights and values from the document's wording. Stanford Law School Dean Kathleen M. Sullivan said of the important book: "'Democracy and Distrust' is a masterpiece that combines elegant theory, raffish wit and a heartfelt search to ger the role of the Supreme Court in American democracy just right." The book angers many conservatives, who tend to believe that judges should avoid such interpretations of the Constitution, however this book, and his many other articles on Constitution law, are necessary reading for any well-read lawyer.

Juridprudence: Is there a middle ground?
This excellent little book tries to find a middle ground between the judicial activism advocated by Ronald Dworkin, for example, and the strict original intent approach eloquently defended by Robert Bork. Philosophy of jurisprudence is not always a concept easily grasped, however. In the first chapter, Ely takes us through the discussion of where and how judges drive their activist approach through the door. Ely agrees that the due process clause of the constitution is not the place where an activist jurist should hang his hat. The due process clause, he argues, is concerned strictly with procedural matters, though it can be forcefully enforced within that context. Likewise, he argues, the 14th amendment, with its equality clause and privileges and immunities clause, also has been used to broadly expand judicial oversight on a number of issues. Again, Ely dissents by arguing that the 9th amendment is the more appropriate vehicle because of the procedure issue that constrains the due process clause as well in the 14th amendment. A true classic
John Ely's masterpiece on the the proper scope of judicial review is a must-read for anyone interested in the Supreme Court or just law in general.In short, Ely feels the Court should limit its power to assuringadequate access to the political process for all and not to giving answersto substantive issues such as abortion, affirmative action, economicrights, etc.In short, the book is a strong defense of the activism of theWarren Court (Ely clerked forChief Justice Earl Warren and the book isdedicated to his memory).Though the emphasis on the work of the WarrenCourt may make the book seem a little outdated, the book is neverthelessrelevant since it provides a partial justification for the abandonment ofsubstantive due process that conservatives such as Antonin Scalia andRobert Bork have argued for in the 80's and 90's while at the same timedefending certain types of judicial activism (for example, in voting rightsor gay rights cases) that appeal to liberals.Though Ely's insights intoconstitutional law are brilliant (his corpus of law review articles fromthe 70's, many of which form the foundation for this book, provides some ofthe most well-thought arguments on many diverse areas of constitutionalscholarship), his arguments are not without their weakpoints (though youmay have to read the book a few times to find them- not a bad idea in anycase).Specifically, the manner in which he derives his so-called"representation reinforcement" theory is problematic.It seemsto be somewhat of a non sequiter to argue, as he does, that since one ofthe main themes of constitutional development has been the extension ofaccess to the political process (in the form of the extension of thefranchise, abolition of the federal poll tax, etc), the Court's should usesuch a development as a cue for how to read the Constitution.It not onlyseems to cheapen the amendment process, but also begs the question of whymore democracy is desirable.In addition, Ely's theory of equal protectiondepends upon a good deal of psychology (trying to read the feelings thatmotivated legislators and their constituents) that sometimes leaves youscratching your head.While the arguments of the book are not perfect, itwould be a mistake to think that any of them are severe enough to detractfrom the sum total of the wisdom contained in this unparalleled piece oflegal scholarship. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Civil Procedure    2. Constitutional law    3. General    4. Judicial review    5. Law    6. Legal Reference / Law Profession    7. United States    8. Law / General    9. Political structures: democracy   

Reviews (2)

"Excellent start for novice or those interested in CSI"
Mark R. Hawthorne's "First Unit Responder," CRC Press 1999, ISBN 0-9493-002-1, is a 6 chapter 98-page guide book for uniformed officers working in the field who frequently are the first to arrive for a potential crime scene investigation(CSI). Rookies or veterans, Cops to firefighters to EMT's
As a law enforcement instructor at a police training facility, I found this book to be fantastic for the new recruits we train. As a retired police officer/Crime Scene Analyst, I also realized it would be great for some veteren officers and non-law enforcement personnel to review. Mark Hawthorne has kept the technical information on an easily understandable level. He has covered, in 90 pages, what would take hours of personal instruction. I found the test questions and answers extremely helpful in preparing reviews. This book can be picked up by the patrol officer, and if READ, could furnish much of the information to properly document most any crime scene. I would recommend this book to any basic law enforcement instructor or new police officer. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crime scene searches    2. Criminal Evidence And Analysis    3. Criminal Investigation    4. Criminal Procedure    5. Evidence    6. Evidence preservation    7. Evidence, Criminal    8. Forensic Science    9. Handbooks, manuals, etc    10. Law    11. Legal Reference / Law Profession    12. Political Freedom & Security - Law Enforcement    13. Courts & procedure    14. Criminal law    15. English law: criminal law    16. English legal system: law of evidence    17. Law / Forensic Science   

Reviews (1)

A book for the Private security Pro
Here is a book of knowlege that every private security person needs. If you know the basics of the trade then this will help to fill in the planks and point out the pitfalls. In easy to read form with easy references it can provide todays security personel the things they need to know and use on dutyto make them better at their jobs. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business/Economics    3. General    4. Industries - General    5. Law and legislation    6. Police    7. Police, Private    8. Practical Guides    9. Private security services    10. Reference    11. United States    12. Business & Economics / Industries    13. Courts & procedure    14. Criminal law    15. USA   

Reviews (2)

Terrible Book
ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS THAT THIS BOOK HAS A LOT OF FACTS, BUT THEY ARE BASED ON RACISM.NEARLY ALL PICTURES IN THIS BOOK HAVE WHITE COPS WITH FULL ARMOR AND RIOT GEAR ON BEATING A BLACK MAN TO THE GROUND WITH THEIR NIGHT STICKS AS SEEN ON PAGE 103.POINTING OUT HOW MANY BLACK CRIMINALS THERE ARE IN THE WORLD IS NOT NECESSARY EITHER. ...

UNAPPROPRIATE MATERIAL
I FOUND THIS BOOK TO HAVE MANY RACIAL REMARKS AGAINST AFRICAN AMERICANS.SOME THINGS YOU JUST KNOW AND DON'T NEED TO BE SAID.THE CONSTANT PPOINTING OUT OF HOW MANY BLACKS ARE CRIMINALS AND HOW MANY BLACKS ARE POLICE OFFICERS IS IRREVELANT IN THE STUDY OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE.CRIMINALS ARE OF ALL RACES AND SO ARE POLICE OFFICERS.I WOULD NOT SUGGEST THIS BOOK TO ANYONE WHO WANTS A CAREER IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE FIELD. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Criminal Procedure    2. Criminal justice, Administrati    3. Criminal justice, Administration of    4. Criminology    5. General    6. Sociology    7. True Crime / Espionage    8. United States    9. Law / General    10. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT   

Reviews (9)

Better than E&E, easy to follow.
Glannon is easy to read and understand, and he adds light moments that are welcome during intensive studying. I'm not a big fan of his Examples & Explanations. They are well done, but you basically have to use it throughout the semester along with your regular text book - and let's face, many of us are already pressured enough with all the regular reading. This book is one you can use in the last few weeks before exams, and really clear up any of the confusions on the main subjects. For me, it was invaluable for Personal, Subject Matter, and Supplemental Jurisdiction.

Owe my Civ Pro grade to this book...
I bought the Glannon Guide instead of E&E sort of by accident, but it was fantastic.The E&E is also a great help, but this one is a faster read and the MC questions throughout the chapter are helpful for appying what you learn.I spent an entire day during finals week(s) reading this book, and it was the absolute best use of my time.Thanks Prof. Glannon =)

Must have for Civ Pro
Civ Pro is not something that ever really "clicks" all at once for most students.For me, reading this book cleared up most of my confusion.Highlights of this title are Joinder, Supplemental Jurisdiction, Claim and Issue Preclusion, and the multiple choice questions at the end of each chapter.I would rely on E&E for a clear picture of Erie.One thing this book does not cover is Class Actions, a topic most classes spend a decent amount of time on, although not an easy topic for a prof to test on in essay format...then again, any Class Action chapter will be outdated due to the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005.All in all, get this book if you are the least bit confused about Civ Pro ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Civil Procedure    2. Communications    3. Law    4. Legal Reference / Law Profession    5. Problems, exercises, etc    6. United States   

Reviews (58)

Brilliance qua Judge Judy!
If you get this for Christmas, just make sure you also get something in writing that says it's a gift, not a loan.

She may be angry but she has a point
So just as I was about to condemn all books that have catchy titles, I come across this one. We all know that we shouldn't judge a book by its cover and title. I learned that I also shouldn't judge a book by its author's TV show. A court session on TV? Just another reality tv show right? Ive seen only a few episodes of Judge Judy and I can't help but think that the 'cases' were very trivial, and were just hyped by a super sharp tongued judge, and a super reactive audience. I was amazed by Judge Judy Sheindlin's no hesitation, no holds barred approach to telling off those that have wrongfully crossed family laws.
Judge JudyRules!
As usual, Judge Judy tell's it like it is. There should be more Judge's like her. Two thumbs up! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Civil Procedure    2. General    3. Juvenile courts    4. Juvenile justice, Administration of    5. Law    6. Lawyers & Judges    7. Legal Profession    8. Legal Reference / Law Profession    9. New York    10. New York (State)    11. Sociology    12. United States    13. Biography & Autobiography / General    14. Central government policies    15. Laws of Other Jurisdictions & General Law    16. USA   

Reviews (1)

Great Review Resource
A great overview of Evidence Law in the U.S. courts system.I like the outline in the first pages.The price doesn't hurt either! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Civil Procedure    2. Evidence (Law)    3. Legal Reference / Law Profession    4. Outlines, syllabi, etc    5. United States   

Reviews (3)

The best friend for pro se litigants in the strange land of law.
This is one of the best books I have read and enjoyed about pro se litigation. The large font, great white space, and properly displayed summary tables render the book easy to endure and utilize. The authors offer many proverbs and examples for lay people that alleviate the harshness of legal lingo. Moreover, they even translate the formal and non-technical English words into layman's language. For example, words such as "sanction, impeach, strike, motion, cross, re-cross, direct, and re-direct" are simplified to common readers to mean "punish, discredit, delete, request, and questioning of witnesses in different setting".
Represent Yourself In Court: How to Prepare & Try a Winning Case (Represent Yourself in Court)
This book is amazing!You won't need a lawyer after you read this and it will save you time and money.

Represent Yourself In Court: How to Prepare & Try a Winning Case (Represent Yourself in Court)
Extremely useful and easy to understand! Practical idea's and great insight. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Courts    2. Courts - General    3. Law    4. Legal Reference / Law Profession    5. Popular works    6. Practical Guides    7. Pro se representation    8. Trial practice    9. United States   

Subjects:  1. Criminal Evidence And Analysis    2. Criminal Procedure    3. Criminal investigation    4. Evidence    5. Footprints    6. Footwear    7. Forensic Science    8. Identification    9. Jurisprudence    10. Law    11. Legal Reference / Law Profession    12. Science/Mathematics    13. Criminal investigation & detection    14. Law / Forensic Science    15. Police & security services   

Reviews (4)

Way to Go Sav
This book is super-great in every way.The forms are pretty darned good, but mostly, the book itself is exactly the right thickness to level up my dining room table. So when I'm not whipping out some quick construction contract form stuff, I can enjoy a meal without the table wobbling at all. The cover is colorful too- my pet ferret likes that. Highly recommended.

Great book for biginners
I'm new in this business and this book help me to make construction forms and contract so easy.

NOT FOR THE HOMEOWNER
I purchased this book to help build my house.I am the general contactor for the job and I thought I would be able to find some form for the sub contractors to sign.This was not the case and it really wasn't any help to me at all.It might help someone who is starting their own business butnot for someone building their own house. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business/Economics    3. Careers - General    4. Civil Procedure    5. Construction - General    6. Construction contracts    7. Forms    8. Technology & Industrial Arts    9. United States   

Reviews (1)

Better than Glannon
I bought this guide along with the much-lauded Glannon E&E, as well as the Glannon Guide to Civ Pro.The Glannon Guide is not worth the money or time.The Glannon E&E is very good.Freer's treatise is EXCELLENT!It is clear (very, very clear) and comprehensive (big picture to minutiae are covered, concepts, cases, etc.).As the semester progressed, I began to use Freer's book exclusively to understand the subject (I still used Glannon E&E for the numerous questions and answers [note: Freer does include many question/answer type analyses as well]).I recommended getting both - use Freer to understand the topics you are covering, and Glannon E&E to get more practice with hypos. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cases    2. Civil Procedure    3. Civil Rights    4. Law    5. Legal Reference / Law Profession    6. United States   

Editorial Review

Jeffery Leving has spent more than a decade in the trenches of domestic law. From that perspective, he gives men embroiled in custody disputes a powerful and impassioned voice in Read more

Reviews (24)

Fathers and Men need to WAKE UP NOW
I felt compelled to write about this book after reading one of the reviews on it apparently written by a female.
Some good thoughts but overoptimistic
The author of this book certainly does not say anything that is untrue, even given the huge disparity of laws in the 50 states. However, on the front cover, among other things, he says you will learn how to:
Very informative
This book is a must read for all dads who are facing custody disputes of any type.Fathers are a very important part of a child's life and they should know how to fight to stay close and involved with their children. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Child Care/Parenting    2. Child custody    3. Civil Procedure    4. Custody of children    5. Divorced fathers    6. Education    7. Family & Relationships    8. Family Law - Children    9. Legal Reference / Law Profession    10. Legal status, laws, etc.    11. Popular works    12. Practical Guides    13. United States    14. Law for the lay person    15. Private, property, family law    16. Separation & divorce    17. USA   

Reviews (2)

One of the finest Bloodstain texts I have read. OUTSTANDING!
This is one of the finest reference books I have had the pleasure to read.It is easy to understand, no far out explanations.I believe this bookshould be on the shelf of any and all investigators, new or old.The tableof contents was very informative.You are taken from the history of thisdisipline, all the way to case study.Nothing is missed and you can carrythe book by yourself!!Credit was properly given to those that were first,there was no attempt to make one believe the editors were the"first" to discover this disipline.Photos often assisted text. I believe this is necessary for those investigators who do not see this asmuch as others.There was even a glossary !! EXCELLENT WORK !I lookforward to treating my eyes to the next book by James & Eckert

A must for anyone interested in Criminal Law and Enforcement
Anyone involved in law enforcement or Crimial Law will cherish this informative, well written text. It takes a very complicated, mind numbing subject and pilots the reader in an organized, comprehensible manner to awell rounded understanding of the subject. This one should be requiredreading for all law students and Criminal Law practitioners. AMasterpiece!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Analysis    2. Bloodstains    3. Criminal Evidence And Analysis    4. Evidence    5. Forensic Medicine    6. Forensic Science    7. Forensic hematology    8. Law    9. Legal Reference / Law Profession    10. Medical    11. Pathology   

Reviews (2)

Good material---but Outdated
The title of my review says it all: the text and the study guide were fine at the time they were published in 1996, but this is 2004 and a great deal has changed in California's court system from the vantage of civil procedure. The publisher should have updated this book no later than 2000 when the courts were administratively unified; additionally, local and state rules of procedure have been dramatically altered to place greater emphasis on ADR (alternative dispute resolution) and the rules regarding Fast-track litigation have likewise undergone significant changes. Next best thing to the law library
I bought this book in preference over several other self help law books I examined after I fired my lawyer and went in pro per. Lots of really helpful, accessible, thorough, and friendly information. In fact it was sogood that I promised myself I would write its first online review. Youwon't get much help on how to act in court, though, as only attorneys cando that and not paralegals, who it was written for. But don't listen to meI'm not an attorney. My lesson in all of this was to stay out of court inthe first place. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. California    2. Civil Law    3. Civil procedure    4. Handbooks, manuals, etc    5. Law    6. Legal Profession    7. Legal Reference / Law Profession    8. Legal assistants    9. Litigation    10. Trial practice    11. Business & Economics / General   

Reviews (1)

Lots of info, but spare me the victim's rights lectures
For a first semester course in criminal justice, this is a very comprehensive textbook.Lots of information, and you can learn a lot.I didn't use any of the on-line features, so can't say anything for them.
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Subjects:  1. Criminal Procedure    2. Criminal justice, Administrati    3. Criminal justice, Administration of    4. Criminology    5. Social Science    6. Sociology    7. United States    8. Law / Criminal Procedure