Broken Justice: A True Story of Race, Sex and Revenge in a Boston Courtroom

by Kenneth Edelin

Broken Justice is a true story about Dr. Ken Edelin, a young, black doctor who arrived in Boston in 1971 to do his residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Boston City Hospital. In April 1974 he was three months away from completing his residency when he was indicted on a charge of manslaughter by a secret Grand Jury. The indictment concerned an abortion he had performed on a 17-year old girl, and the alleged victim washer aborted fetus. The indictment was sought by an over zealous, anti-abortion prosecutor and because of the racial, political and religious climate which existed in Boston the indictment received national and international attention. In January of 1975 his sensational six week trial began before a jury which was all white, predominantly male and overwhelmingly Catholic. The dynamic confluences of race, sex and revenge played out in a Boston courtroom. The book reveals, for the first time, the maneuverings and conflicts which went on behind the scenes during the time leading up to the trial and during the trial itself. The bitter determination of the prosecuting attorney to impose his personal religious views as the law of the land provides important lessons as we struggle to reach a new social compact for the 21st Century; equal rights for people of both sexes and all races remains central to our national debate. The Supreme Court has recently handed down a landmark decision, intervening in the abortion debate to decree what medical procedure a doctor may or may not use in considering the health and well-being of women seeking legal abortions. The strategy used to get this Supreme Court sanctioned law passed and signedis the same strategy used to indict and try Dr. Edelin more than 30 years ago.For everyone who cares about civil and reproductive rights, this is an important book.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

362 pages, Paperback

First published August 8, 2007

Reviews

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Few books have captured my attention in such a way that this book has. I was unable to put this book down.

Dr. Edelin found himself in the middle of a trial facing manslaughter charges for having done nothing else then performing a legal abortion following all textbook procedures and the law. This is a story of true bravery and determination, and an example of a humble man who fought the injustices of the court system and became a natural leader for minority groups and reproductive rights.

There was never a boring moment in the book. The author kept me in suspense through out. For anyone wanting to have a better understanding of what the fight was like for us to have our reproductive freedoms today, or what those before us dealt with, this is an absolute must read.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! A book everyone should read. I had the honor of meeting Dr. Edelin this spring and he is truely a humble and amazing man, with a great sense of humor I might add. What an experience he has lived through and what courage and bravey he has shown throughout his career. Dr. Edelin is a true advocate for women's health, especially low income and minority women! Please read this book, it will move you!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this too long ago to provide an accurate review but it has stuck with me for the past couple years as an excellent read! Historical non-fiction that isn't dry? Yes, please. (It's pretty riveting, in fact.)

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story this author has to tell was truly unique and worth learning about. Dr. Edelin tells a first person account of the horror he endured as anti-choice politicians tried to use him as test case to challenge Roe v Wade in the months following the landmark supreme court decision. You have to marvel a how inane and convoluted his challengers are. Still, somehow, they win, and Edelin faces conviction and the threat of losing his medical license.

Gripping as the narrative is at times, the writing is disappointing and doesn't do the story justice (no pun intended). Edelin's forced attempts to create literary themes and colorful descriptions fall so flat that they actually distract the reader from focusing on the facts and the true drama of the saga.

Still, if you are able to put that aside, I would recommend this book. Though an important piece of history, it is a sad reminder of how current these issues remain 35 years later.

[JK · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I really liked this book... the story was very compelling. What I didn't like was the unneeded description of a teenage girl being impregnated by her boyfriend. It was as if a two page romance novel was stuck in the middle of the book. It was written in a different style than the rest of the book and completely unnecessary. The part that really bugged me was the phoentic spelling of the DA's Boston accent. We know he was from Boston and they have a distictive accent, it can be written in regular English. That element, more than anything, really distracted me from the story. The doctor's personal story and the story of the trial were fascinating. No other embellishment was needed.

That being said, it was a fantastic story and well worth the read.

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good book. True story of a manslaughter trial in 1973 Boston, except it was really an end around on Roe v. Wade that had recently came down. Apparently Boston is wicked and wont listen to the government. Sometimes the author, who was the defendant, puts a little too much of his spin on what happened, but you can tell that a great injustice happened here.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A account of the author's trial for manslaughter during a legal and by-the-book abortion performed in the early 1970s. Despite overwhelming evidence of his innocence, the pro-life crusaders decided to make this a test case, with startling results.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was suggested to me by my office providers, and so glad I read it. The history behind Boston City Hospital and how politics and Irish culture in a predominately Irish cityshaped this trial and verdict!!

[Kimmie]

One of the best books I've ever read!

[Hobert welling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book