Justice at Trial: Courtroom Battles and Groundbreaking Cases

by James J Brosnahan, Erwin Chemerinsky (Foreword)

Follow a trial lawyer’s career through the demanding, often controversial, and suspenseful world of jury trials, tension-filled appeals and the different worlds of courtrooms, jail cells, corporate boardrooms, and law firms. Each of the cases in the nineteen chapters were selected from a total of his 150 jury trials to reflect issues of current importance, including refugees on the Mexican border, gargantuan gender battles inside one of the largest corporations in the world, sexual taboos on national television, accusations of terrorism, government agents who cheat, innocent prisoners in our jails, the constitutional right to speak and print the truth, bringing law to a war zone, poverty and murder on Native American Reservations, current problems of hunger in America, and more.

Genres: Law

261 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 15, 2023

Reviews

[Franklin Codel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A breezy memoir by a trial lawyer. The narrative surrounds 17 cases that he worked on out of dozens to illuminate particular moments in his career or pivotal times in the law.

Clearly, Mr. Brosnahan is a lawyer of deep experience and high integrity. I got a sense of what it is like to argue in a courtroom and the amount of preparation work that goes into being successful. One of the messages that he clearly imparts in the reader is how important it is to understand and appreciate the world and perspective of the client. Over and over he goes into communities to experience their world which helped him to build better arguments. Another message that rang true is that our institutions are made up of people. And relationships do matter.

Being a trial lawyer seems like a lot of work and a bit of a high wire act. Or maybe like tournament poker: hours of boredom and a few moments of sheer adrenaline.

I couldn’t get to 5 stars because there were so many cases that there was a lack of depth. Probably also because I hold these kinds of books up to Just Mercy.

I would recommend the book to any young person (that’s you, son) thinking of a career in law. Taking to heart some of Brosnahan’s lessons will help you have a better career. He would be an example of an amazing mentor.

[Carsen Codel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely gets me amped up for law school, and even more interested in the concept of being a trial lawyer. I was struck by how varied Brosnahan’s case load was, but I guess when you’re the best you get to choose a little bit/get offered some golden eggs.

The writing was accessible but at times felt a little bit like a first draft of a manuscript, with some confusing/poorly written passages or some parts that seemed superfluous. However, I did appreciate his asides into politics as they helped illuminate his perspective on how the political and the legal fields interact with each other. Well worth the read for anyone interested in a storied trial career.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

James Brosnahan is an outstanding attorney who has fought brilliantly in court on major cases around criminal justice, immigration, and civil rights. He's a good writer too, and the book is filled with the drama of the courtroom and behind-the-scenes legal strategizing. However, this book needs a good editor and copy editor. In the chapter about defending Steve Psinakas from threats from the Marcos regime (and the collusion of the U.S. government), Brosnahan consistently misspells the name of one of the attorneys on his team (Ruth Borenstein), misnames Fort Bonifacio, and states that one anti-Marcos activist was killed in Seattle. There were two -- Gene Viernes and Silme Domingo -- and anyone in the anti-Marcos movement or Filipino community knows the names of those two courageous fighters who were gunned down in a trade union hall. In the chapter on the Sanctuary trial, he misspells the Spanish response of the key government infiltrator/witness, not once, not twice but three times. These kind of errors really detract from what should be a completely engaging read! Shame on Rowman and Littlefield Publishers!

[Stuart Shiffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book that most trial lawyers will find enjoyable to read. The writing is folksy and entertaining. As a legal memoir I give it high marks.

[Steve Mayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great stories by a great lawyer, a pleasure to read and think about. He does the impossible, making lawyering sound like a lot of fun, which it is.

[Al Menaster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite good. Stories of Brosnahan's many trials, criminal and civil. Compelling stories, well told.

[Brendan Mahon · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a young litigator who is always learning how to better try cases, this book is a must read. Aside from permitting the reader a backstage pass to the many complex and highly publicized trials during his career, Mr. Brosnahan's views on justice, the rule of law, and what it means to be a trial lawyer are what make it difficult to put this book down.