Rating: 
Summary: Well Written, Except of a Lot of Annoying Name-Dropping
Review: It was fascinating to read the detailed stories of the O.J. trial as the story unfolded, instead of in hindsight, as all of the other books did. Dunne's essays on the Simpson case were written as the trial progressed, and it was fun to read things like that there's no way, with this DNA evidence, that he could get acquitted! Dunne's books are unique because he lets you know exactly what he is thinking; when he thinks a witness was lying, or a lawyer, or even a judge, was unethical, he lets them have it. That makes the book very satisfying [more so if, of course, you agree with his point of view.]My quibble with the book, and it's a picky one, is the constant name-dropping, even when not necessary to the story. Sometimes Dunne comes off as someone with low social self-esteem, who tries to make himself more important by dropping the names of rich and famous he knows personally, particularly in the Simpson essays. On Virtually every page, he states something like, "I was having dinner with movie mogul Marvin Davis, with so and so sitting at the next table, when so and so came up to me and said, "Dominick . . .." Other anectdotes are preceded by statements like, "I was at a party for Mr. Big Shot famous movie producer, and schmoozing with Ms. Big Shot Movie Star, when the following incident occurred." It tends to get old after a while, particularly when I had never heard of some of the allegedly Big Shot people. It's a small quibble, though, because the book really does give you a front row seat into some of the more fascinating crimial trials in history; not just what went on in the courtroom, but also what was going on behind the scenes. Thus, by the time you are finished reading the book, you can forgive Dunne for throwing in so much self-important name-dropping, because he took us along for such a fascinating ride. I would recommend the book to all who are interested in the more tawdy criminal trials of our day.
Rating:
Summary: A Witty Insightful Commentary On Crime & Punishment
Review: There's a feeling when reading Dominick Dunne of partaking in a rather sinful indulgence. His non fiction stories resound with the phrase, "truth is stranger than fiction." "Justice" is his collection of heinous crimes, the subsequent trials, and surprisingly varied outcomes. If you've never read Dunne's work in Vanity Fair, for which he's a regular contributor, you're in for a treat. His stories are much more than your average crime and punishment retelling. They are reflections of our society in all it's grandeur and gaudiness. Over dinner soirees and cocktail parties, in the Hamptons, or Lincoln Center, his is the ear that's bent with gossipy and lurid tidbits that fuel his "cases" with sometimes jaw dropping confessions. Almost half of the book is devoted to the O.J. debacle, and if you're not interested in rehashing that, I'd suggest reading his previous anthology "Fatal Charms & The Mansions of Limbo." Which brings me to why I only gave the book four stars. I felt a little cheated that the first three stories in this collection had ben previous published in another book. I understood why his daughter's story needed to be in here, but felt the other two were merely recycled filler. But besides that a fun,entertaining bit of escapism.
Rating:
Summary: In 2003, deserves a 2nd look!
Review: Many people who have reviewed Dunne here have missed the fact that this book is a collection of essays with updates of his work for Vanity Fair. So if they appear repetitive, you probably subscribe to Vanity Fair.
For the virgin Dunne reader, I'd start with this book. I just finished JUSTICE at a cottage in the great Canadian North. What a quick, easy read.
I do think Dunne should have edited from essay to essay, as there are repeated names and facts from one to the next. Regardless, I can't think of another famous person I'd like to interview for his opinion on the world of the rich and famous. Dunne is a millionaire, hob nobs with his fellow kind, yet calls it like it is.
Some suggest he dwells in the land of good versus evil. I suggest, Dunne travels by gut instinct.
His honesty is refreshing.
I was fascinated with the extensive coverage of the OJ trail...
Again, I disagree with my fellow reviewers---I wanted more, more, more.
The newspaper and tv coverage gave the "official" view...Try a front row seat -- that's what the Judge gave Mr. Dunne.
This book isn't everyone's cup of tea, but its readers are sure to acknowledge Dunne has reinforced the concept that justice is a relative term.
Rating:
Summary: How the Other Half Lives. Dies and Gets Away With Murder
Review: Truman Capote he's not, but with his insider status on the periphery of the worlds of the rich and/or famous, Dunne serves up his observations from the various murder trials involving people with last names like Bloomingdale, DuPont, and Simpson, and with ties to families with names like Kennedy, in a dishy and slightly catty style that makes you feel like you're gossiping with your best friend over brunch. It's a fun, revealing read, especially if you haven't read much of Dunne's trial diaries for "Vanity Fair" magazine. If you have, then these stories will not be new to you as they were previously printed in the magazine. Oh, the book contains about 10, yes 10, chapters on the OJ Simpson trial and aftermath, and Dunne doesn't have any pretensions of journalistic objectivity about the guilt or innocence of the people whose trials he covers. Perhaps what makes Dunne's diaries most interesting is not just that they offer a glimpse into the lives of the very famous, or those whose wealth is almost beyond the average person's imagining, but that the glimpse offered is often a "warts and all" portrait that shows not just the fabulous wealth that many of these people enjoy, but also their faliure, bad decisions and unhappy love lives. While Dunne provides satisfaction to our voyeuristic tendencies (and in a manner that is perhaps a bit classier than any of the "reality shows" that pollute the airwaves and that more people watch than might be willing to admit it) he also serves to humanize people who are otherwise larger than life figures, whose lives have taken on such mythological proportions that we forget that they are people who eat, sleep, go to the bathroom, get sick, get old, fall in love, stuggle with mental and emotional problems (as well as alcoholism and drug addition) and experience faliure just like the rest of us. The final portrait is one of the rich as like us and at the same time not like us. After all, they may suffer many of the same misfortunes as mere mortals and make the same bad decisions, but wealth often cushions the consuences, and sometimes cancels them altogether - even in the case of murder. After all, a DuPont whose a crack addict is, at the end of the day, still a DuPont, with a trust fund that will give him access to treatment that may elude not-so-wealthy addicts. And a murderer who has enough money to afford the best defense, and enough celebrity to generate some public sympathy, can get away with a murder that would inevitably send a poorer person to prison for a long, long time.
Rating: 
Summary: Justice for all?
Review: Dominick Dunne's 'Justice' is a look at several criminal trials and their outcomes. As the father of a murdered daughter Dunne's main concern seems to be whether or not justice is served. Unfortunately at times it seems that for one reason or another (mostly wealth or fame) that justice is not served. This is where 'Justice' is at its best, seething with indignation that such things could have an effect over a judge/jury. This is particularly true in the titular installment dealing with the trial of the man who murdered Dunne's daughter, where he is the most personally involved. But 'Justice' is an uneven book. There is far too much of the O.J. Simpson case, which occupies the entire middle of the book (Dunne himself professes that many people seem sick of that trial, then continues to harp on it for another hundred pages or so). In the last half of the book Dunne's incessant name-dropping began to seriously bother me. It seems as though every time he steps out he just happens to run into some well known society figure or celebrity, and there is constant mention of all his famous friends. The final installment, about the Martha Moxley murder trial that just ended now (after the book's publication), is so self-serving that I was tempted to put the book down. The epilogue about 9-11 didn't help either, as Dunne uses the day as an opportunity to point out how his otherwise normal week was turned upside down by relating his schedule of fabulous events that he had gone to on september 10th, unaware of the looming tragedy. After a good start 'Justice' loses something. Many chapters are not as compelling as Dunne seems to think they are, particularly the ones pertaining to O.J. All in all it is not a bad read and I would recommend it to those who are interested in law or perhaps in ethics for the better moments.
Rating: 
Summary: Dropping names and opinions
Review: Dunne is a hack when he tries to discuss the criminal justice system. His opinions are obviously not always incorrect, but he reveals a lot of misconceptions about the law and trials. His biggest asset seems to be that he knows and is known to many wealthy, famous or whatever individuals. One gets the impression that he is a groupie of both criminal trials and the rich and famous and inflates his own status. This collection of articles varies from really poor to average in intelligence and content.
Rating:
Summary: This is really a book about the trial of OJ Simpson
Review: While I did enjoy "Justice," it was not what I expected. I wasn't aware that the book is a grouping of Mr. Dunne's articles from "Vanity Fair." The book was off to an excellent start with a chapter about Dominique Dunne that made me cry. However, it quickly moved into numerous chapters about OJ Simpson (this was the bulk of the book). The book is worth reading if you are an OJ Simpson junkie. If you are not, I recommend skipping that part. I also could have done without Mr. Dunne's constant references to all the famous people he knows.
Rating:
Summary: A fascinating world that most of us will never touch...
Review: Dunne moves in circles that I scarely knew existed anymore. Well, I knew they were around of course, just not in my world. He exists often in a world that the Society pages in our newspapers once fawned over. Those days, as Joe Epstein argues in "Snobbery" are largely gone. However, Dunne moves in what is left of it. But, what sets him apart (makes him far more than a name dropper that some ridicule him for being) is his compassion for victims. His own loss is moving. He is funny, warm, honest, and never pulls his punches. He is elegant and real. This book of essays is well worth your time.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting and Entertaining
Review: This is a collection of articles that appeared in Vanity Fair on some of the biggest crime stories of the rich and famous. This is not a series of "whodonits.." Instead Dunne weaves the tales of the people and personalities involved in each case. From the Menendez Brothers, to OJ, Claus Van Bulow, and Michael Skakel, we see the people behind the facades. Very, very entertaining pieces. Much of the book centers on the OJ Simpson trial. I am sick of the OJ trail, but I found these articles interesting. Especially worth reading is how Dunne describes the culture of Los Angeles and its elite through these revealing articles. So even if you're tired of OJ, you'll likely find these pieces relevant and interesting.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting But Not Compelling
Review: After listening to Dunne on Larry King Live, I was very interested in his chronicles of some of the high profile murders of recent times. Dunne is a good writer, entertaining, and worth reading. However, there was nothing new in this book. The man does get around socially and subsequently, he gets his story. While Dominick Dunne speaks with an honest voice, he's still singing the same old tune. Maybe I'm tired of hearing about OJ? I remain baffled about the title because Justice was certainly never accomplished for many of the rich and famous of which he writes. Ho Hum...
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