Disorderly Conduct: Excerpts from Actual Cases [Paperback]

Rodney R. Jones (Editor), Charles M. Sevilla (Editor), Gerald F. Uelmen (Editor), Lee Lorenz (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1999

"Splendid. . . . Pokes irreverent fun at everyone in the court system. . . . Lee Lorenz' fine illustrative cartoons add laughs to this madness."—Chicago Tribune

This assortment of unintentionally amusing courtroom exchanges ranges from the testimony of expert witnesses to jury selection to cross examination to creative defense, closing argument, and sentencing — a rollicking guide to America's legal system.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Splendid. . . . Pokes irreverent fun at everyone in the court system. . . . Lee Lorenz' fine illustrative cartoons add laughs to this madness. -- Chicago Tribune

About the Author

Rodney R. Jones is a practicing attorney in Medocino, California.

Charles M. Sevilla is in private practice in San Diego.

Gerald F. Uelmen is a professor at the University of Santa Clara Law School. Jones and Uelmen have edited a companion volume, Supreme Folly, also available in Norton paperback.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company (August 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393319261
• ISBN-13: 978-0393319262
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #351,223 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #21 in Books > Law > Perspectives on Law > Comparative

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Actual Reviews...., April 30, 2003

By 

Tacie Himelright "Tortuga Tess" (Kennett Square, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Disorderly Conduct: Excerpts from Actual Cases (Paperback)

The 1st of 2 books by Charles M. Sevilla (with others on this book) that takes a humorous look at life in the courtroom. I'm sure that a lot of you have gotten the e-mail with excerpts from this book (which is what prompted me to buy the book and the 2nd "Disorder in the Court"). With quotes like "Then I object to the District Attorney objecting to my objecting to standard legal objections" (p. 60) there is something in this book to tickle everyone's funny bone. Anyone in or around the legal professions should find this book amusing. Amusing illustrations illuminate some of the quotes. I found some quote more amusing that others, but over all got a good chuckle out of the book. Over all this is a good book. It would be great for the beach - pick it up, put it down and pick it up again, no worrying about loosing your place in the story.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny in the first degree!, January 19, 2000

By 

Michael J Woznicki "Michael J Woznicki" (Holland, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Disorderly Conduct: Excerpts from Actual Cases (Paperback)

Another book that covers the misquotes of the legal system? Maybe but the funny stories that you will read make it a real pleasure to review this book. This 170 plus page book of stories and illustration are actual excerpts from cases and I am glad to have read this book.

Covered in the book is testimony from expert witnesses, the jury selection process, cross-examinations, opening and closing arguments and the sentencing phase. Each section is so enjoyable and so funny, I found myself laughing for hours.

Poking fun at the legal profession is getting to be too easy and this book proves it. The stories are great and coupled with the fantastic illustrations you have an unbeatable combination. A real collectors item for those in and out of the legal field.

The verdict is in and it's unanimous, guilty of laughter in the first degree. Well done and congratulations on a fine and hilarious book!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Amusing but short, September 26, 2006

By 

Amit Patel (SF Bay Area, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Disorderly Conduct: Excerpts from Actual Cases (Paperback)

I enjoyed the book, but I had read it in an hour, and I have no desire to read it again. So what do I do with it now? I'll give it to someone else. Save your money and borrow this book from a friend or from the local library.