Capital defense : inside the lives of America's death penalty lawyers /

Few topics are more controversial than the death penalty. Capital Defense provides a history of capital punishment and outlines the legal challenges to the imposition of death as the ultimate punishment. ​Gould (American Univ., Washington, DC) and Barak (Univ. of Michigan, Dearborn) clearly outline some of the rarely considered nuances of the legal life of US capital punishment lawyers and the obstacles they encounter. The introduction provides context for the discussion on capital punishment litigation, and the chapters that follow address constitutional issues connected to cruel and unusual punishment, race and the death penalty, gender and the death penalty, and working with clients accused of crimes eligible for the death penalty. The authors observe that defending death row inmates is a skill that some lawyers develop, a skill that builds pride in the profession. Gould and Barak conclude with deliberate, reflective, and proactive comments worthy of consideration. These ideas, if put into action, might provide real change in a system where defendants pay the ultimate price. Capital Defense is an important book for those interested in law, lawyers, and the death penalty in the US. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers. --Aaron RS Lorenz, Ramapo College