Tough Cases - by Russell F Canan & Gregory E Mize & Frederick H Weisberg (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Behind every courtroom trial is a judge tasked with making a life-altering decision--this is their "engaging and bracingly honest" (National Catholic Reporter) side of the story

Prosecutors and defense attorneys have it easy--all they have to do is to present the evidence and make arguments. It's the judges who have the heavy lift: they are the ones who have to make the ultimate decisions, many of which have profound consequences on the lives of the people standing in front of them. In Tough Cases, called "powerful collection of inside information about some of the most interesting and high-profile cases of our times" by former prosecutor Paul Butler, a remarkable group of judges--from family court to tribal court to the federal bench--pull back the curtain on the most challenging cases of their careers, sharing what it means to bear the weight of justice in cases that shape lives and ignite national debate.

These "hard-to-put-down" (starred Library Journal) narratives include landmark rulings such as the Elián González custody case, the emotionally charged Terri Schiavo right-to-die battle, and the prosecution of Scooter Libby. Others unfold far from the public eye but are no less consequential: a tribal court judge navigating cultural tensions, a newly appointed jurist grappling with identity and authority, and a chilling case involving a mother who killed her own children.

Relatively few judges have publicly shared the thought processes behind their decision making. Tough Cases makes for "unprecedented" (Greta van Sustren) reading for everyone from armchair attorneys and fans of Law and Order to those actively involved in the legal profession who want insight into the people judging their work.

Review Quotes

Praise for Tough Cases:
"Tough Cases . . . provides an invaluable public service, as the judicial branch is perpetually shrouded in mystery. Even more important, though, several judges go further by shedding the self-serving, wholly unrealistic pretense that legal interpretation never confronts shades of gray."
--Justin Driver, The Washington Post

"Engaging and bracingly honest essays. . . . The editors of Tough Cases chose well to find judges of heart and skill, bringing their stories to light."
--National Catholic Reporter

"Unique and hard-to-put-down title for anyone interested in America's judicial system. Highly recommended for all libraries."
--Library Journal (starred review)

"An unprecedented view from the bench of compelling stories told by trial judges as they grapple with the most fundamental questions in life and the law. The honesty, compassion, frustration, angst, and indeed courage of these judges shine through."
--Greta van Sustren, journalist and former criminal defense attorney

"Tough Cases brings readers the closest they will come to putting on judicial robes and making the demanding decisions that change the course of people's lives."
--Judge Jonathan Lippman, former chief judge of the New York Court of Appeals

"Tough Cases is a powerful collection of inside information about some of the most interesting and high-profile cases of our times. As riveting as a courtroom drama, it is essential reading for lawyers, law students, and all concerned about justice in America."
--Paul Butler, author of Chokehold

"Hard cases may or may not make bad law, but they certainly make for riveting reading. A cannot-put-down book by some of our most thoughtful jurists."
--Louis Michael Seidman, Carmack Waterhouse Professor of Constitutional Law, Georgetown University Law Center

"Candid reflections of judges who were there. From family cases to tribal courts, constitutional questions to murder, Tough Cases takes the reader inside the courtroom and into the judge's chamber."
--Mary McQueen, president, National Center for State Courts

About the Author

Russell F. Canan is currently a judge on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and an adjunct professor at the George Washington University School of Law. He lives in Washington, DC. Gregory E. Mize is currently a judge on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and is an adjunct professor at the Georgetown University Law Center. He lives in Washington, DC.

Frederick H. Weisberg is currently a judge on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and teaches annually in the Trial Advocacy Workshop at Harvard Law School. He lives in Washington, DC.