In Defense of Political Trials - (Contributions in Political Science) by Charles F Abel & Frank H Marsh (Hardcover)

About the Book

When is a political trial good or bad in terms of responsible governance and fairness to individuals or groups? Professors Abel and Marsh define, evaluate, and justify the usefulness of various kinds of political trials, going back through history to answer these questions in practical terms. They point to basic assumptions and various theoretical approaches and assess specific court practices and cases, while showing real dangers and opportunities that have been part of our history. They cover cases involving the establishment and free exercise clauses of the Constitution, including privacy, religious, medical, bioethical, and health-care issues that are of major concern today. This history is important to political scientists, legal scholars, lawyers, historians, and others concerned with civil rights.

Book Synopsis

When is a political trial good or bad in terms of responsible governance and fairness to individuals or groups? Professors Abel and Marsh define, evaluate, and justify the usefulness of various kinds of political trials, going back through history to answer these questions in practical terms. They point to basic assumptions and various theoretical approaches and assess specific court practices and cases, while showing real dangers and opportunities that have been part of our history. They cover cases involving the establishment and free exercise clauses of the Constitution, including privacy, religious, medical, bioethical, and health-care issues that are of major concern today. This history is important to political scientists, legal scholars, lawyers, historians, and others concerned with civil rights.

About the Author

CHARLES F. ABEL, is Associate Professor and Chairman of the Political Science Department, Edinboro State College, Edinboro, Pennsylvania. He is the author of Punishment and Restitution (1984), published by Greenwood Press, and several articles on political science and philosophy.

FRANK H. MARSH, Professor of Philosophy, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, has written at length about medical ethics and legal issues. His recent books include Medicine and Money (1990) and Punishment and Restitution (1984), both published by Greenwood Press, and Biology, Crime, and Ethics (1984).