The Smoking Gun : Day by Day Through a Shocking Murder Trial with Gerry Spence (Lisa Drew Books)
Gerry Spence, the loud, large, imposing Wyoming lawyer who became a household name during the O. J. trial, lends credibility to the Sixth Amendment "right to counsel" by taking on unpopular clients and going up against the mighty machine of the state. Here, Spence recounts in chilling detail the case against a poor mother and her son, both accused of murder in Oregon. Once the state has its suspect, Spence argues, watch out, for all the stops are pulled out so as to prove that the police, the D.A.'s office, and even the judges did not make a mistake. Feeling for this family, Spence agrees to join the defense team pro bono, helping two talented court-appointed attorneys. We have the privilege of getting inside Spence's head, from the heartfelt compassion for his client to the analysis of the evidence to his clear disdain for many aspects of our legal system, especially how the accused is treated as guilty until proven innocent. A true maverick, Spence is someone you'd want on your side.Mary Frances WilkensCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved