In Joan's Defense: A Twelve Judges Courtroom Drama

by Ron Carter

The story of Joan Carson’s murder trial is the first of the powerful, new 12 Judges courtroom novels by bestselling author Ron Carter (Prelude to Glory series, et al). The Sixth Amendment to the US Constitution guarantees that all accused of crimes have the right to a jury trial. Historical precedent, dating back to the judges of the 12 tribes of Israel as well as the 12 apostles, set the number of jurors at 12—the number most often used today. While the result is a man-made, less-than-perfect system, it’s probably the best on earth. The 12 Judges novels draw on Ron Carter’s study of the Constitution and his 30 years of legal experience to show real-life dramas played out in this heaven-inspired, but human system. Ben Cooper and Les and Joan Carson have been friends since they were children. So it stuns Ben when Joan shows up in his office badly beaten and admitting that she has just shot her husband to death. Ben takes up her defense, and the odds are stacked against him—all evidence points to Joan, and he sees no use in disputing it. To defend her, he embarks on a legal go-for-broke strategy that may exonerate Joan or send her to prison for life. And while he gambles in the courtroom, outside the courtroom he learns the terrible truth about he had more than likely murdered his business partner. But was Les actually responsible for murder and for his wife’s beatings? Last-minute forensics evidence shows that Les Carson had a brain tumor that most likely robbed him of his capability to rationally think. The revelation in open court stuns Joan and the court as a whole and brings the trial to a thundering conclusion. In Joan’s Defense is based on a landmark trial that Ron Carter himself handled. The incident, the strategy, the trial, and the verdict are represented as they actually happened.

Genres: Fiction

254 pages, Paperback

First published August 25, 2005

About the author

Ron Carter (1932-2008) was born in Salt Lake City and reared in Twin Falls, Idaho. He served received a bachelor’s degree in industrial management from Brigham Young University. He received a juris doctor degree in 1962 after attending the law schools at George Washington University and the University of Utah. Recently he has been a research and writing director for the Superior Court system of Los Angeles County, California. He published his first work in 1988.

Ron is married to LaRae Dunn Carter of Boise, Idaho, and they are the parents of nine children. The family resides in Park City, Utah.

Reviews

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Ron Carter's stunning new 12 Judges Courtroom series, we see a murder from the start, the police investigation, evidence and trial like unto CSI, John Grisham and Law and Order. Joan and Les Carson have been married for 27 happily married years, when all of a sudden, Les starts getting irritable, forgetting things and people he knows, then gets violent with those closest to him, like Joan and his business partner. Joan winds up in her's and Les's best friend's law office, telling Ben she killed Les because of all the beatings she received from him. Ben takes on Joan's case, determined to hope for a hung jury. What insues makes for a stunning climax!!! If you love CSI, Law and Order and John
Grisham, you'll absolutely devour this novel!!!

[Lydia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a really hard read for me. I had a really hard time getting into it. It had some interesting parts but most of it was court room drama which is something I never much cared for. I wouldn't read it again.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A murder is committed, or is it? This takes both sides of the process clear through the trial. Very good.