Law in America: An Illustrated Celebration [Hardcover]

S. Blair Kauffman (Author), Bonnie Collier (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 25, 2001

The ability to adapt to the continual changes necessitated by American freedoms is one of the hallmarks of the American justice system. Law in America celebrates the history of this complex, ever-shifting process, detailing landmark cases, famous trials, and the influence of the media, as well as chronicling how popular culture has viewed lawyers and the judicial system over the last 250 years. The authors also profile individuals who have interpreted existing law and carved out new legal frontiers. Generously illustrated throughout, Law in America features images of the evolution of courthouse architecture; engravings and paintings depicting the legal system at work by artists including Thomas Hart Benton, Jacob Lawrence, John Singleton Copley, and Norman Rockwell; photographs and portraits from landmark cases and decision makers; and famous newspaper headlines, political cartoons, and movie stills. Includes 180 color and black-and-white photographs and illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Blair Kauffman is the Law Librarian and a Law Professor at Yale Law School. Bonnie Collier is an Associate Librarian for Administration at Yale Law School. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Universe (September 25, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0883633779
• ISBN-13: 978-0883633779
• Product Dimensions: 14.4 x 11.3 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,612,144 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jury Trials, January 9, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Law in America: An Illustrated Celebration (Hardcover)

The nature of this book does not allow for a full exposition of all aspects of American legal system; rather, it is a heavily illustrated overview and celebration of the major features of American law. The section on the American Jury System is reflective of this approach, briefly sketching the origins of the jury system from the Greeks, William the Conqueror and English jurisprudence and tracing its development in the American legal system. It begins with the sentence: "The jury system is at the heart of American law and our democratic system of government, enshrined in the Constitution." It closes with the phrase "...the right to a trial by jury is a basic and fundamental part of the American justice system and is likely to remain so." While the authors note that at one time American juries routinely excluded women and minorities and also notes that many cases are settled without a trial, it would be a terrible misreading to interpret this section as anything other than a positive celebration of the American jury system.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Boiled in Oil, March 10, 2004

By 

rick (pueblo, colorado) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Law in America: An Illustrated Celebration (Hardcover)

The book makes several peculiar claims, among them that boiling in oil was a common punishment in Colonial America. I would like to have seen some evidence substantiating this assertion.

Most of the pictures are nice.

Buy it at the sale price or not at all.

1 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars book says jury trial is going out dated, January 3, 2004

By 

Philip M - See all my reviews

This review is from: Law in America: An Illustrated Celebration (Hardcover)

Out of the hundreds of pages in this book there were only 2 about the jury trial. Those pages said the jury trial was outdated. The contempt of the authors for real american law and justice is astounding. Anyone who denigrates the jury trial like this is literaly an enemy of everything america stands for.