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“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be used against you in court. You have the right to a lawyer. If you can’t afford one, the state’ll furnish one. Any questions?” “Yeah, what time is it?” “Time to go to jail, big man.”
Jake had often wondered why every small Southern town had an Adams, a Jefferson, and a Washington, but no Lincoln or Grant.
Jake hated insurance companies, and he hated insurance defense attorneys, and he especially hated the Sullivan firm’s younger members, all of whom were his age, and all of whom would gladly cut his throat, their associates’ throats, their partners’ throats, anyone’s throat to make partner and earn two hundred thousand a year and skip docket calls.
But, on the other hand, we can’t allow people to grab guns and hand out their own justice.
lawyer is stupid if he promises an acquittal. Too many things can go wrong at trial.”
“Naw, he’s been half dead for ten years, but he still moves a little.
“He’s an expert on criminal law.” “That could be because he’s a criminal.”
“If he were white and he killed two blacks who raped his daughter, the jury would give him the courthouse.”
think little girls are special, and if mine was tied to a tree and gang raped by two dopeheads I’m sure it would make me crazy.
“Well, I’ll tell you what you do, Mr. Reinfeld. You go and catch your plane and don’t ever worry ’bout comin’ back to Clanton on my behalf. I’ll take my chances with my friend Jake.”
the thought of another beer made him vomit. He lay on the conference table in his underwear and tried his best to die.
“I was afraid you’d want to be a law partner.” “No. I’m a woman, and I’m in the South. I know my place.”
“Why do lawyers drink so much?” “They learn how in law school.
Does your dad drink?” “Are you kidding? We’re Catholic.
“You have something against females, sir?” Ellen asked. “No ma’am. I love females. I’ve married four of them.”
“Nervous?” “As a whore in church.”
Lucien had convinced him that jurors followed the lawyer who told the truth, regardless of his looks, words, or superficial abilities. A lawyer had to be himself in the courtroom, and if he was afraid, so be it. The jurors were afraid too.
Make friends with fear, Lucien always said, because it will not go away, and it will destroy you if left uncontrolled.
“White females, white females,” Harry Rex said. “The worst possible jurors in the world. White females!” Ellen stared at him. “I think fat white men are the worst jurors.”
I’m ashamed I live in a society which permits the legal killing of a human being.”
In the first grade. I decided not to be like my mother because she frowned all the time and looked down on the world.
