Courting Justice : A Lawyer's Casebook, from the Yankees V. MBL to Gore V. Bush

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating and informative for practitioners as well
Review: As well as providing interesting stories on high profile cases, this book is particularly useful for litigators as a window into how one of the finest trial attorneys thinks and prepares. For example, the section on the Microsoft action details some of Boies principles in conducting depositions, how one might treat witnesses who will not appear at trial differently from those who will, Boies thoughts on weekend breaks in depositions, etc. The trial description detail some ideas on the order of witnesses and provides some insight into what Boies thinks of saving useful documents for recross -- I've read elsewhere that Boies likes betting on the horses, etc. and it's clear from his descriptions, he is very confident about when to take calculated chances during the course of a litigation. It is a very good book.

Rating:
Summary: The trial lawyer as protagonist
Review: Boies' certainly has some great stories. He reminds me of an old war hero who enjoys conveying the details of distant battles to any willing audience. Perhaps he tries to remain modest, but in the end his ruminations and perceived glory from various legal conquests proves too great a challenge for humility to remain.

If you enjoy chronicled biographical thrillers with high cost stakes - this book is for you. However, if you shy away from self-glorifying personas perhaps something a bit toned down would be better?

Nonetheless, this is a mesmerizing portrayal of one man's pleasure derived frome litigation conquests. There are sometimes boring people - but there are no boring lives. And Boies proves that with this book.


Rating:
Summary: riveting
Review: I found Courting Justice to be as much of a page turner as any John Grisham book I 've ever read. Boies' knowledge of the law coupled with his exciting storytelling make this book a must-read for everyone.

Rating:
Summary: What more can you ask for?
Review: I found this book entertaining, informative and insightful. Not only does David Boies have a wonderful story to tell but he is an engaging writer. It reminded me of why I went to law school in the first place and is heads and tails above the standard drivel produced my media-hyped super-lawyers. My guess is that we may see more books from Mr. Boies, both in the fiction and non-fiction areas. I also bought several books to give to friends and clients as holiday presents.

Rating:
Summary: A real page-turner
Review: I was originally drawn to this book after hearing an interview with the author regarding the Bush vs. Gore case, and I figured that the book's best sections would concern that case. Little did I know that this memoir, covering eight cases between 1997 and 2000, would actually prove to be one of those books that is almost impossible to put down, as I couldn't wait to find out what happens next.

Boies discusses the importance of the trial lawyer's keeping his arugments relatively simple and straightforward, and clearly he has kept that principle in mind when writing this book. He discusses the technical ins and outs of each case, but does it in a style that not only is undaunting to laymen, but actually engages the average reader. Even chapters like that covering the "Vitamins" case (where most of the scores of defendants settled long before the case went to trial) makes the intricate details of making financial settlements pretty interesting to follow.

Some of the cases are so interesting, in and of themselves, that it is almost impossible to engage the reader, and for me these were the ones to which Boies devoted the most book space, "Habie vs. Habie (54 pages)," US vs. Microsoft (109 pages)," and of course "Bush vs. Gore (106 pages)." Each case has its unique aspects which make it fascinating. With "Habie vs. Habie," I found it very difficult to stop reading, as Boies puts himself in some potentially dangerous situations to achieve the recovery of two children kidnapped by their Guatemalan father --- a man who had millions of dollars, the Guatemalan government, and scores of gun-toting guards at his disposal. The Microsoft case was just plain to read about, as Boies absolutely demolishes Microsoft's witnesses on the stand (here in Washington, that case got some impressive airplay at times). "Bush vs. Gore," of course has importance to every American. There are other books that explore every nook and cranny of the Florida elections and recounts, and Boies (who came into the case halfway through) does not do that, but recollections of one of the case's principals is of course extremely important reading, particularly where he shreds the rationale of the US Supreme Court regarding the intervention & decisions made concerning the Florida recount. Whatever one may think of the events leading up to the recount, one cannot help but be left concluding that the USSC seriously compromised its integrity with this decision.

Aside from the cases, this cannot really be considered much of a memoir. One is not left with much insight into Boies the private citizen, other than he takes an awful lot of vacations all around the world, and eats at some very nice restaurants. Most of the photographs are of a personal nature, so the reader might be expect find more personal recollections within the book. Good luck with that one, folks.

That of course is a minor quibble. This is a book that is informative, interesting and entertaining. I enthusiastically recommend it!

Rating:
Summary: The View From The Top
Review: Most lawyers dream of leading that high-profile case that will bring them the riches and recognition they've worked so hard for--for super-lawyer David Boies, it's just another day at the office. Courting Justice reels readers into the life and view of America's top litigator, through a gripping account of the cases that have brought him fame, fortune and frustration after leaving the top law firm in the country in 1997 to start his own law firm. Boies' legal insights and strategies frame the issues presented in these cases in ways that make sense to both experts and laymen, and allow readers to undertand the powerful interests and high-stakes behind the seminal cases of our day.

Rating:
Summary: Compelling reading
Review: Often you hear encomiums on a book to the effect that 'I wanted it not to end.' I have often thought such words were overdrawn, since I usually want to finish what I am reading so as to read something else. But NOT this book. I found the book page after page compelling reading, and could not help but be fascinated by the accounts of the high stakes litigation in which Boies was continually engaged. Even a case like the Microsoft anti-trust case, dealing with high tech issues not easy to comprehend, is very well-told and enlightening. This great book concludes with 120 pages on the behind the scene and on the scene account of Bush v. Gore, and tells that complex story clearly and with devastating clarity as to what happened. How Boies could so ably handle such momentous cases in as short a time as he sets out--1997 to 2000--is hard to believe but we know he did. Nor is the usual fault of lawyer books--puffing themselves--evident in this well-written volume. He lets his results do the illuminating of his ability. As the author says, each of the cases he discusses could be the subject of a book in itself and in a way one wishes that each were. This is a marvelous book, which was a sheer joy to read and savor.