Prosecutorial Ethics (American Casebooks) [Paperback]

R. Michael Cassidy (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0314150269 | ISBN-13: 978-0314150264 | Publication Date: March 2005

This casebook explores the ethical responsibilities of a prosecutor at each stage of the criminal justice process. Focusing on ethical and constitutional constraints on prosecutorial discretion, the texts covers both Supreme Court decisions interpreting Fifth and Sixth Amendment guarantees and state rules of attorney conduct. Topics discussed include a prosecutor’s conduct during criminal investigations, charging decisions, grand jury practice, interviewing and contacting witnesses, plea bargaining, jury selection, trial conduct, and publicity. Each chapter is followed by real-world hypotheticals designed to introduce students to the ethical dilemmas typically encountered by government lawyers in criminal practice. This book is suitable for use in an upper level professional responsibility seminar, or in a criminal justice clinic. Pertinent provisions of the American Bar Association’s Model Rules of Professional Conduct and Standards for Criminal Justice are included in an appendix.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Thomson / West (March 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0314150269
• ISBN-13: 978-0314150264
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #386,050 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Incredibly Informative and Thought Provoking Read, October 7, 2006

By 

TheTallOne (Connecticut) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prosecutorial Ethics (American Casebooks) (Paperback)

This book is a must read for anyone even remotely interested in the field of prosecution, and even law for that matter. The author, a professor at Boston College, is able to fit an astounding amount of information in a fairly small space and it is not a tedious read as many other books that I have read on the subject of prosecutorial ethics. The author must be incredibly intelligent to have been able to write such a book, and once again I highly recommend this book. If you think that this area is even somewhat related to what you need to know, buy it as soon as you can.

4.0 out of 5 stars This is a fine product., February 11, 2010

By 

the History Guy (Ann Arbor) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prosecutorial Ethics (American Casebooks) (Paperback)

"Prosecutorial Ethics" deviates from the traditional law school case book and adopts a lecture/conversational tone which draws the reader into what could otherwise be a monotonous rule-based subject. The work expertly weaves a tapestry of ethics theory and practical application, drawing heavily from common law jurisprudence, the ABA's Model Rules of Professional Responsibility, and the US Justice Department Prosecutor's Manual (among others). The text presents the prosecutor's basic duties to the case, the court, and the defendant while simultaneously challenging the student to explore his or her own biases, prejudices, and ethical limits. Don't judge this book by its cover, or its relatively diminutive size. "Prosecutorial Ethics" is, without a doubt, the finest legal ethics course book I have ever owned.