In this electrifying bestseller, the shrewd and voluble trial lawyer Louis Nizer, who made a long career of representing famous people in famous cases, recounts some of his significant civil and criminal cases. Nizer rose to national fame with his real-life accounts of tension-filled courtrooms and the fervor of the advocate, and “My Life in Court” proved to be no exception: it rose to the top of the Times’s best-seller list on its publication in 1961 and logged 72 weeks as a sales leader. The book is an in-depth collection of some of Mr. Nizer’s court case success stories, including his client Quentin Reynolds’ famous libel action against the columnist Westbrook Pegler, which would also become the basis of the 1963 Broadway play “A Case of Libel.” Praised by critics as “entertaining and philosophically instructive, an unusual combination,” Nizer’s movie-like plots of real-life courtroom drama will keep you captivated until the very last page.

“The layman’s impression of a trial frequently comes from stage, motion picture, and television sources, which, while invariably exciting, are a pale simulation of a real trial. My quarrel with these presentations is not that they are technically incorrect, but that they are substantially inadequate. They lack emotional authenticity. They tend to become stereotyped. Their falsity largely defeats their authors’ purpose because the excitement, surprise, and meaningfulness of a real court contest are incomparable and elude imagination. In fictional court scenes one sharp contradiction often breaks the witness, who then hysterically screams a confession. In real life the witness’s fortitude in the face of exposure is as remarkable as a human body’s resistance to incredible torment. The need to survive creates desperation, and desperation makes possible survival. This circle of determination is not easily broken, and in the succeeding pages one will find dozens of entrapments and startling contradictions, leaving the witness no retreat and compelling him to admit his error. Yet he continues to fight back and clutch for the remote chance that the tide will turn and he will not go under. Sometimes, it does, and the bizarre developments that bring it about are also beyond inventiveness. This gruesome struggle exceeds the artificial concept of authors of what constitutes court drama in the same way that true human experience in any sphere exceeds the patterned concept of some fiction.” This gripping legal classic is organized as follows: Prologue: Opening the Green Doors 1. Reputation: The Libel Case of Quentin Reynolds vs. Westbrook Pegler 2. Divorce: The “War of the Roses” and Others 3. Talent: The Case of the Plagiarized Song “Rum and Coca-Cola” 4. Honor: Issue of Nazism in America 5. Life and Limb: Two Cases of Negligence 6. Proxy Battle: The Struggle Over Loew’s

Boston lawyer William P. Homans Jr. devoted his fifty-year career to the defense of the poor and downtrodden, the protection of our most basic civil liberties, and the abolition of the death penalty. Descendant of two of Boston's oldest and most prominent families, and combat veteran of both the British and American Navies during World War II, Homans became unlikely guru to the 1960s generation of radical lawyers and antiwar activists. He was on the defense team in the 1968 conspiracy trial of Dr. Benjamin Spock and four other leading opponents of the Vietnam War accused of aiding and abetting resistance to the military draft, and represented Dr. Kenneth Edelin in the 1975 manslaughter prosecution arising out of a lawful abortion performed after Roe v. Wade. The narrative contrasts Bill Homans' storied legal career with a troubled personal life in a balanced but unvarnished manner, testifying to the strength of the human spirit when committed to the pursuit of the common good. About the author: Mark S. Brodin is Professor of Law at Boston College Law School and the author of numerous books and law journal articles in the areas of civil and criminal procedure, evidence, litigation, and employment discrimination. A graduate of Columbia College (1969) and Columbia Law School (1972), he served as law clerk to United States District Judge Joseph L. Tauro and staff attorney with the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights in Boston. He has also practiced for brief periods as a public defender in Boston and a prosecutor in Norfolk County.

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor tells her own story for young readers for the very first time! As the first Latina Supreme Court Justice, Sonia Sotomayor has inspired young people around the world to reach for their dreams. But what inspired her? For young Sonia, the answer was books! They were her mirrors, her maps, her friends, and her teachers. They helped her to connect with her family in New York and in Puerto Rico, to deal with her diabetes diagnosis, to cope with her father's death, to uncover the secrets of the world, and to dream of a future for herself in which anything was possible. In Turning Pages, Justice Sotomayor shares that love of books with a new generation of readers, and inspires them to read and puzzle and dream for themselves. Accompanied by Lulu Delacre's vibrant art, this story of the Justice's life shows readers that the world is full of promise and possibility--all they need to do is turn the page. Praise for Turning Pages: * "A sincere and insightful autobiography that also demonstrates the power of the written word. A winning addition to libraries that serve young readers." --School Library Journal, starred review "A personal and appealing book made to inspire." --Booklist "A thoughtful introduction to both the power of reading and an inspiring role model." --Kirkus Reviews "This book would be great as a read-aloud for class discussions of the Supreme Court, or United States government, or of important people in public service. It would also be good for independent reading by students interested in biographies or political figures." --School Library Connection

"Monty's Day in Court" shows young people they have the power to bring about change for themselves and others. Monty's story serves as a tool for children in learning resilience and as an aid for those on the front lines helping young people through challenging times. The book follows 10-year-old Monty's journey as he learns it is ok to be upset about his experiences and works through his feelings with his therapist. After he is subpoenaed to testify, caring adults help him understand what will happen in court and the support he will have throughout the process. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACEs, are costly. They include experiences such as abuse or growing up while a parent is incarcerated. The economic and social costs to families, communities and society totals hundreds of billions of dollars each year. For children, ACEs can have life-long consequences. Interventions and professional support go a long way in addressing ACEs, providing both short and long-term safety nets for vulnerable children."Monty's Day in Court" assists therapists, court programs, social workers, teachers, law enforcement, attorneys and parents in helping children better understand the process of testifying in court and reduce the traumatic impact of the experience. Author Jessica Miles is a former foster parent who writes about her family's experiences. Illustrator Gina Dee is a foster parent and has written books about trauma and foster care. Reviews"Being called to testify in a courtroom is unsettling for any individual. This experience is exponentially impactful for a traumatized child. As an elementary principal, this book is an invaluable tool to have on site to better support students who face a similar situation." Deb Ganderton, Principal, McKinley Elementary School"It's a great tool and for a great cause." Vanessa Dudley-Miller, State Director, Kansas Court-Appointed Special Advocates"This book is excellent! I loved all of it, but especially the definitions of the different courtroom characters. The descriptions of the gamut of emotions a child goes through were excellent." Patricia Robles, Social Worker