Daniel Lanahan

Justice for All: Legendary Trials of the 20th Century Daniel Lanahan

In an effort to show history really does repeat itself and highlight great issues of our times, this book captures the essence of certain trials that took place in the history of the United States and reminds us that many issues of old are still with us, yet unresolved and subject to great continuing public interest. The author argues public perceptions of guilt or innocence are often wrong and actually could have effected the results of famous trials. Celebrity murders, governmental manipulation, death penalty and civil rights issues provide some of the backdrop for discussions. The guilt of famous accused ax murderess, Lizzi Borden, a white, church-going maiden from England is compared with the terrorists Sacco and Vanzetti. Murder of a child by other youths, Leopold and Loeb, creates a forum to discuss the death penalty as argued by famous trial lawyer Clarence Darrow. The death penalty as applied to minors was only recently decided by the U. S. Supreme Court. The Civil Rights Movement developing from the Scottsboro Boys trial and World War II is analyzed. Military commissions and tribunals, the treatment of Prisoners of War and enemy combatants are issues that arise out of the Nuremburg trial. Social and religious debates are dealt with in the Scopes Monkey trial, the right of choice developed in Roe v. Wade and the special college admission case of Bakke v. Regents of the University of California. Finally, the impeachments and trials of Clinton and Johnson are compared. This review of the last 100 years in the Courts wherein major issues, many still with us, is enlightening and thought provoking.