Disorder in the Court: Great Fractured Moments in Courtroom History (Paperback)

by Charles M. Sevilla (Author) "You have heard testimony that the day in question was cold, windy, and with above-average precipitation..." (more)
Key Phrases: probation report, Los Angeles, Defense Counsel, San Diego (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Court legalese, often combined with malapropisms and slips of the tongue in exchanges between judges, lawyers, plaintiffs, defendants and eccentric jurors, is gleefully quoted here, complete with frequently profane and explicit language as drawn from sketches in San Diego lawyer Sevilla's Forum and Champion magazine column. For example, a psychiatrist, starting with a court assertion that "we're not arguing truth here, we're arguing evidence," declares that "I am not here using common sense, I am an expert." A defendant accused of drunken driving displays delightful candor by pleading "guilty as hell." A team of three overzealous defense attorneys beats up a client to provide evidence of self-defense. Readers will undoubtedly cull their own favorites from this irreverent sampling of "justice" in action.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description
Sit back and enjoy a collection of verbatim exchanges from the halls of justice, where defendants and plaintiffs, lawyers and witnesses, juries and judges, collide to produce memorably insane comedy.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: W.W. Norton & Co. (August 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393319288
• ISBN-13: 978-0393319286
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #21,930 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #7 in	Books > Nonfiction > Law > Perspectives on Law > Legal History
  #7 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Law > Perspectives on Law > Legal History
  #8 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Law > Procedures & Litigation > Courts

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great read and very funny too!, January 19, 2000

By	Michael J Woznicki "Michael J Woznicki" (Holland, MA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

When I decide to review a book, I try to pick subject that interest me and law is one of those subjects. This book has very little to with the practice of law and very much to do with the lighter side of the law. It will entertain you for hours as you read through the pages.

In just over 250 pages you will find some of the funniest things ever said in a courtroom. You'll read what lawyers; witnesses, jurors, judges, defendants and plaintiffs have said if you pay attention you'll find yourself on the ground laughing.

A book that took just one hour to complete from cover to cover has provided a very bright start to the New Year. The sidesplitting questions and answers are sure to make everyone laugh. A certain must have for everyone in the legal field.

Written by a practicing lawyer and taken from actual court transcripts you'll get a first hand look at not so serious side of the system of jurisprudence. Congratulations on a job well done! This book makes a great gift for those hard to buy people as well.

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Disorder in the Review, April 30, 2003

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

The 2nd book of 2 by Charles M. Sevilla that takes a humorous look at the goings on in courtrooms around the country. 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 1st "Disorderly Conduct"). I enjoyed this book and got some chuckles out loud. Anyone in or around the legal professions should find this book amusing. Amusing illustrations illuminate some of the quotes. There are bits of this book that are more amusing than others, but what I find amusing you may not. I still feel that there is enough in this book to make everyone smile (if not chuckle). An interesting addition to this book are the names and cities of the people who submitted the quotes to Mr. Sevilla (there was even one from my home town of West Chester). Which I guess now would be a good time to add - the author originally wrote a column that used this type of humor (and quotes) prompting people from around the country to start sending him their additions. After a while he had enough for 2 books. 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.

26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The snippets I've seen sound good, October 11, 1999

By	Edward Vielmetti (Ann Arbor, MI USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Haven't read the whole thing. But some quotes from the book are circulating on the net. Samples:

Q: Do you know if your daughter has ever been involved in the voodoo A: We both do. Q: Voodoo? A: We do. Q: You do? A: Yes, voodoo.

Q: You were not shot in the fracas? A: No, I was shot midway between the fracas and the navel.