Mistrial of the Century: A Private Diary of the Jury System on Trial

Rating:
Summary: Injustice to title
Review: I am glad that I bought this book at a thrift store. I was disappointed in the content. The title should have been more closely associated to the content. I believe that the author was merely trying to ride on the sensationalism of the trial, contrary to his written statements within the book. Although I can sympatize with the author's anguish, while associated with the trial, a different title should have been chosen. As an adjunct professor,of Criminal Justice, I may make a passing comment in class about the content of the book. However, I certainly would not recommend it to my students.

Rating:
Summary: Americans should not have to endure this type of treatment.
Review: It seems as if the judicial system has ground to a stop. The jurors in this book were the last to be given any respect. The treatment was inhumane ..and for Judge Ito to not provide some type of psychological input was gross neglect. No wonder we are not getting a jury of our peers, if this is any indication of how jurors are being treated. I don't know if the Simpson Trial was an aboration or if what Mr. Kennedy went through is just the tip of the iceberg. The entire episode of investigating the jurors even after they were seated is preposterous! One could put this book down and say to himself, "I'll never serve on a jury" or "I want to make a difference and serve". I think that is what Mr. Kennedy would have wanted. Good book.

Rating:
Summary: A juror's view of sequestration
Review: Kudos is due Tracy and Judith Kennedy for making the content of "Mistrial of the Century" more substantial than the title. The O.J. Simpson case is the nominal subject matter of this book, but the Kennedys do not simply toss another empty tome upon the already excessive pile of books that express outrage that Simpson was acquitted or framed, depending on the author's point of view. Rather, the Kennedys discuss the sequestration process and its horrific effects on him (leading him to a suicide attempt) and, necessarily, on her.

The Kennedys' descriptions of former juror Tracy's ordeal are frightening as they describe the nearly complete absence of rights the jurors were forced to undergo. Kennedy describes random searches of all his belongings, monitoring of his phone calls, and other indignities that even the accused did not have to suffer. The book seems brave and honest, particularly in the description of Tracy Kennedy's suicide attempt.

At the same time, the reader should be cautious about drawing the conclusions the authors obviously intend. First, the book mentions possible criminal action against Tracy Kennedy for various offenses, and any book by an accused, honest though it may be, must be viewed in light of the accusations (or, in this case, possible accusations, though time has suggested that none will be forthcoming). Second, and more important, the book is an attempt to bring to light a perceived injustice in the jury system. The O.J. Simpson case, however, was an anomaly among anomalies. Sequestration is itself used in only a minority of cases, and almost never for as long as was the case in the Simpson trial. The problems described are almost certainly not typical. That being said, the Kennedys' book makes it clear that, regardless of one's view of the correctness of the jurors' verdict, they were mistreated, sometimes by each other, but mainly by the forces that gave them their positions as jurors.

Rating:
Summary: Injustice to title
Review: Kudos is due Tracy and Judith Kennedy for making the content of "Mistrial of the Century" more substantial than the title. The O.J. Simpson case is the nominal subject matter of this book, but the Kennedys do not simply toss another empty tome upon the already excessive pile of books that express outrage that Simpson was acquitted or framed, depending on the author's point of view. Rather, the Kennedys discuss the sequestration process and its horrific effects on him (leading him to a suicide attempt) and, necessarily, on her.

The Kennedys' descriptions of former juror Tracy's ordeal are frightening as they describe the nearly complete absence of rights the jurors were forced to undergo. Kennedy describes random searches of all his belongings, monitoring of his phone calls, and other indignities that even the accused did not have to suffer. The book seems brave and honest, particularly in the description of Tracy Kennedy's suicide attempt.

At the same time, the reader should be cautious about drawing the conclusions the authors obviously intend. First, the book mentions possible criminal action against Tracy Kennedy for various offenses, and any book by an accused, honest though it may be, must be viewed in light of the accusations (or, in this case, possible accusations, though time has suggested that none will be forthcoming). Second, and more important, the book is an attempt to bring to light a perceived injustice in the jury system. The O.J. Simpson case, however, was an anomaly among anomalies. Sequestration is itself used in only a minority of cases, and almost never for as long as was the case in the Simpson trial. The problems described are almost certainly not typical. That being said, the Kennedys' book makes it clear that, regardless of one's view of the correctness of the jurors' verdict, they were mistreated, sometimes by each other, but mainly by the forces that gave them their positions as jurors.

Rating:
Summary: A juror's view of sequestration
Review: Kudos is due Tracy and Judith Kennedy for making the content of "Mistrial of the Century" more substantial than the title. The O.J. Simpson case is the nominal subject matter of this book, but the Kennedys do not simply toss another empty tome upon the already excessive pile of books that express outrage that Simpson was acquitted or framed, depending on the author's point of view. Rather, the Kennedys discuss the sequestration process and its horrific effects on him (leading him to a suicide attempt) and, necessarily, on her.

The Kennedys' descriptions of former juror Tracy's ordeal are frightening as they describe the nearly complete absence of rights the jurors were forced to undergo. Kennedy describes random searches of all his belongings, monitoring of his phone calls, and other indignities that even the accused did not have to suffer. The book seems brave and honest, particularly in the description of Tracy Kennedy's suicide attempt.

At the same time, the reader should be cautious about drawing the conclusions the authors obviously intend. First, the book mentions possible criminal action against Tracy Kennedy for various offenses, and any book by an accused, honest though it may be, must be viewed in light of the accusations (or, in this case, possible accusations, though time has suggested that none will be forthcoming). Second, and more important, the book is an attempt to bring to light a perceived injustice in the jury system. The O.J. Simpson case, however, was an anomaly among anomalies. Sequestration is itself used in only a minority of cases, and almost never for as long as was the case in the Simpson trial. The problems described are almost certainly not typical. That being said, the Kennedys' book makes it clear that, regardless of one's view of the correctness of the jurors' verdict, they were mistreated, sometimes by each other, but mainly by the forces that gave them their positions as jurors.

Rating:
Summary: A study of sequestration
Review: Onetime Simpson juror Tracy Kennedy has written an account that, intentionally or otherwise, argues strongly against jury sequestration. Those looking for juicy tidbits about courtroom proceedings during the first Simpson trial won't find them here, and in a way that's the point. Kennedy demonstrates the effects of long-term sequestration, showing that the jurors were not only not informed about most of what was happening in court (those who watched CNN knew more than the jury), but that they also grew increasingly, dangerously isolated from the outside world. Tracy and his wife Judith contribute chapters as Judith recounts her growing concern over Tracy's emotional and physical health. "Mistrial of the Century" could be useful reading for those studying the jury process.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: This book is not necessarily about the O.J. Simpson trial. It is about how the Justice System treats the people that are assigned to be on a jury. I think this book should be mandatory reading for every trial attorney and trial judge. I realize that this trial had more press converage than any other trial, but I would think twice about being on a jury and subjecting my family to that kind of torture.

Rating:
Summary: Very Enlighting Book
Review: This book was not what I expected. This book is not about the O.J. Simpson Trial. These book goes into the way jurors are treated in our Judicical system, how jurrors are guarded and have the same rights as a person in jail. This book should be mandatory reading for all judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys who will have to select a jury that will be sequestered.

Rating:
Summary: Very informative of our jury system.
Review: This shows that our system is in great need of improvement. Great reading if you want to know what happens to jurors behind the scenes. Shows how people trying to do their civic duty are treated.