Rating: 
Summary: Really Great Book!
Review: It was very long to listen to, but well worth it in the end. Maybe I'll try to read the Abridged book! I am a big John Grisham fan, but Buffa is truly brilliant! If it wasn't for the length , I'd definitely give it a 5 star!
Rating: 
Summary: should we or should we not trust the reviewers
Review: It's been a year since I have read the Judgment and I have just finished reading his next book, Legacy. I wasn't much thrilled with either book and was all the more surprised to see the 5 stars or 4 stars reviews written for both books. Then I noticed that most of the reviews come from reviewers very highly rated by the Amazon.com website. Even the #1 reviewer Harriet Klausner was thrilled with the book. I wondered whether there was something wrong with my opinion, but then I read Harriet's little autobiography. It says, among other things: "I am a speed reader ( a gift I was born with) and read two books a day." Therein lies the problem. The speedreader understands that modern fiction is obsessed with unnecessary details. (oh no, here comes the preaching (-; ). Modern fiction seeks to provide descriptions of every room a hero enters, every piece of clothing the hero might wear, every street address the hero might drive to, etc. A speedreader knows and skips ahead to the relevant stuff. That is what one must do to enjoy Buffa's Judgment and Legacy. That is what one cannot possibly dare to do when reading Buffa's Defense and Prosecution. The fact of the matter is that the Judgment is an adequate thriller; it is your run-of-the-mill paperback that you throw out after reading or take back to your nearest used bookstore. And that is how first time readers of Buffa will react to it. But those familiar with Buffa's earlier work have been captured by his careful characterizations and his social studies - writing that doesn't waste a word, will be disappointed, to say the least. Buffa's first two books are shorter, to the point and cannot be speedread (much like speedreading Kafka's Metamorphoses would defeat the purpose of reading it - just an example). Thus, unless you are an avid reader that knows how to avoid useless descriptions, read Judgment with proper reservations - or better yet, read Buffa's first two books instead. I must agree with the "Did We All Read The Same Book?, June 9, 2001" review and the "not buffa's best, December 29, 2001" review - they are reviews of those who have read Buffa's other works and who are disappointed by Buffa's new bad habits.
Rating:
Summary: ENTERTAINING LEGAL THRILLER
Review: Judge Calvin Jeffries was known as a brilliant judge, his knowledge of the law was endless, at the same time he was hated by many because his desire for power stood in the way of him being a fair judge. After being found murdered in the courthouse parking lot, Jeffries' killer is caught and sentenced. While in prison the killer commits suicide. The case is closed! Soon after Jeffries is killed a second judge is murdered in the same manner as he, this time the suspect is a homeless man who doesn't even know his own name. Once again the case seems to be open - and - shut, but one attorney senses something is wrong, and after having a personal experience with Judge Jeffries, he decides to take this case and investigate it to it's fullest. Joseph Antonelli knows all too well the unethical antics of Judge Jeffries, and does not believe the homeless man committed a copy cat crime against the other judge at random. As Antonelli's case takes shape, and his investigation takes him into the bowels of our legal system, he realizes these crimes are all part of a carefully orchestrated plan by a killer who has the perfect defense, and is using Antonelli as his tool to complete what has been started. 'The Judgment' is a well written, briskly paced thriller that grabs the reader and doesn't let go. The plot twists and turns, introducing various characters, and various sub plots to all pull together nicely in the surprise climax. In a genre that has become somewhat tired, 'The Judgment' adds new life by being an entertaining and original read. D.W. Buffa has done a great job of keeping the reader guessing all the way through the book, he has combined murder, legal thrills, interesting characters, romance, and unexpected twists to create a readable, and very entertaining novel. Nick Gonnella
Rating:
Summary: a competently written, yet overblown work
Review: Judge Calvin Jeffries, an egomaniac with a vindictive nature, is murdered. He is stabbed in the courthouse parking garage. The judge had enough enemies so the suspect list would be voluminous. However, an anonymous phone call alerts the authorities to arrest a homeless man and escaped mental patient who confesses to the crime then commits suicide. It appears to be an open and shut case until two months later when Judge Jeffries' successor is killed in the same location in a similar manner. Joseph Antonelli, defense attorney, agrees to defend the man accused of the crime, another mental patient who was so abused in his past that he is almost unable to communicate. As Joseph looks into the case, he finds that events in his own past plays a pivotal role in the case.
There are many legal thrillers published each year. In fact, it is considered a strong dynamic subgenre of the mystery field. I just wonder what made this particular volume stand out in the mind of the Edgar Committee for best novel. THE JUDGEMENT is a competently written, yet overblown work. Characterizations, especially that of the first person narrator, Joseph Antonelli, are skillfully done and is the major strength of the work. The plot, itself, is reasonably compelling yet so very long and, at times, aimless, that reader interest could tend to wane. Courtroom scenes appear realistic, yet, they are a bit too detailed such as the judge's instructions to the jury on courtroom proceedings. The solution, when it comes at last, is ambiguous enough to cause frustration. Perhaps I am being overly critical, however, I think if a book is nominated for the prestigious Edgar Award it should be held to a higher standard. I feel THE JUDGEMENT does not meet that standard. Nonetheless, it is a very entertaining book and a good pick for summer reading.
Rating: 
Summary: TOPNOTCH READINGS FOR THIS THRILLER
Review: Murder isn't a dead certainty in "The Judgment," the latest thriller from former defense attorney D. W. Buffa. What is without doubt are the topnotch audio book readings by Dennis Predovic in the unabridged release and Ron McLarty in the abridged version. Dennis Pedrovic has a voice often heard in commercials and cartoons, as well as television appearances on "Law and Order" and a number of soap operas to his credit. Hollywood and television both claim Ron McLarty who has appeared in numerous films, such as "The Postman," "Mean Streak," and "Heartburn." Acknowledged as possessing a keen legal mind, Judge Calvin Jeffries disdained the law and worshiped power. His murder in a courthouse parking lot paralyzes the community, but is hardly mourned by attorney Joseph Antonelli whose worked has been plagued by Judge Jeffries' decisions. But this time the wheels of justice roll - the Judge's murderer is apprehended. The killer confesses, and then commits suicide. Case closed? Not really. Another judge is murdered in the same manner and Antonelli agrees to represent the defendant in what seems to be a copycat crime.
Rating:
Summary: TOPNOTCH READINGS FOR THIS THRILLER
Review: Murder isn't a dead certainty in "The Judgment," the latest thriller from former defense attorney D. W. Buffa. What is without doubt are the topnotch audio book readings by Dennis Predovic in the unabridged release and Ron McLarty in the abridged version. Dennis Pedrovic has a voice often heard in commercials and cartoons, as well as television appearances on "Law and Order" and a number of soap operas to his credit. Hollywood and television both claim Ron McLarty who has appeared in numerous films, such as "The Postman," "Mean Streak," and "Heartburn." Acknowledged as possessing a keen legal mind, Judge Calvin Jeffries disdained the law and worshiped power. His murder in a courthouse parking lot paralyzes the community, but is hardly mourned by attorney Joseph Antonelli whose worked has been plagued by Judge Jeffries' decisions. But this time the wheels of justice roll - the Judge's murderer is apprehended. The killer confesses, and then commits suicide. Case closed? Not really. Another judge is murdered in the same manner and Antonelli agrees to represent the defendant in what seems to be a copycat crime.
Rating:
Summary: A great read, you always wonder where he's going next
Review: So many books in this genre start with introducing us to the protagonist, and he or she has had some heroic feat in the not too distant past (i.e., the last book), just waiting for another. Joseph Antonelli is just your average guy, who had a brilliant performance once before that is worth telling us about, but not much since. Come to think of it, this is pretty much the story of the average criminal defense lawyer. We plod along, trying case after case, handling crisis after crisis, but there is no magic in what we've done. Once in a great while, maybe once a decade, we see a "Perry Mason" moment in a trial. Such is Antonelli's lot. His come along once a decade, too. All these books have a trial. I got halfway through this book before I discovered that the trial was still a long way away, and enjoyed every second of the plot development up to that point. In fact, Buffa's writing style is so fluid and flawless that I could read all day and enjoy the development and confluence of three or four plot lines, two past, two current. Why so slow? Well, it's not slow at all. Everything, we shall see, has a purpose. The blurbs on the slip cover are all true. I do what Antonelli does, and I do not like reading gratuitous books about criminal defense lawyers that tell us nothing of the human condition. What I am looking for in somebody I can identify with, and I seldom identify with any lawyer I read about. Reading just a story wastes my time. This is not "just a story." I am impressed with this book, and that is difficult to do. This is one of the ten best I've read in this genre. One reviewer, also a novelist, compares The Judgment to Presumed Innocent ("Not since Presumed Innocent have a read a thriller so equally balanced between the convolutions of the legal process and those of the human heart ...."). Comparing any book to Presumed Innocent is potential hyperbole, and it should raise red flags with anyone. Here, it does not--it is a fair comparison. But remember, Presumed Innocent is a different book in a different style. And that is as it should be. Reading knock offs of other books is a waste of time, and we might as well read romance novels. It is satisfying to read something good again.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Court Books Yet
Review: This book is excellent. I loved it so much that I am now buying. As well as telling all my fiends about this book; without telling who did it. You will be amazed at how the crime was committed. There is an lot of intrigue as well as mistery. You will love this book. Buy it and then read it. If you don't have time to read get the cassett or cd and listen to it in your car you want be able to stop listening to it or put the book down.
Rating:
Summary: Really good story with great characters
Review: This is my first DW Buffa novel. I really the enjoyed the storyline with its many twists. When I thought I knew what was going to happened, I was surprised. Also, I really empathized with Joe Antonellis, the hero of the novel as well as the other many colorful characters in the story. I really thought the ending was good. Different from many other novels.
Rating:
Summary: Buffa's Boffo!!!!
Review: This is the third book this author has written and I have read and very much enjoyed them all. He is without peer in describing courtroom action and the dialogue is spot on, both in it's literary quality and it's legal accuracy. This is an interesting mix of love and revenge which finds Attorney Joseph Atonelli right in the center of the whirlwind. It starts with the funeral of Judge Calvin Jefferies, one of the vilest human beings to ever ascend the bench. Fittingly enough the good judge has died in a way that brings some joy to those he has mistreated during his career - he has been murdered in a knife attack - and for good measure he is disembowled, or as Antonelli points out in a question to a witness - "You mean he was gutted?"
The killer is arrested based on an anonymous tip that he would be found "under the bridge" where the homeless live. He confesses to the crime and a short while later he is found dead in his cell - an apparant suicide. Not long after that his successor is also murdered in a knife attack and another tip is recieved that the murderer can be found "under the bridge" in the homeless community. Sure enough, the police find a young homeless man with a knife that has the victim's blood on it. It is the defense of this accused person that provides Antonelli with the biggest challenge of his career and you will just have to get the book to see how this is woven into a plot which will keep you reading to the end and sorry when it is reached.
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