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Summary: CONFRONTING!!!!
Review: A closing argument is the lawyer's final opportunity to give perspective and context to the evidences introduced throughout the trial. It is the last chance for the lawyer to convince forcefully his or her position to the jury. The book LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE JURY is an outstanding collection of ten of the most powerful, thought-provoking courtroom closing arguments in the last one hundred years- including the Nuremberg trial (a personal favourite) and Clara Foltz's closing argument as California court's first woman trial representative. Containing masterful speeches from some of the legal profession's finest prosecutors, this book is an ideal reference for anyone interested with the law.
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Summary: If your idealism is waning, this book will help you find it!
Review: After years of arguing caseslaw, motions, picking juries, interviewing witnesses, going through all the day to day protocol that trial work demands, one may forget at times how important is the job of a lawyer. But this book reminds the practioner that he/she is a part of a wonderful system of justice. Not many cases will go down as "The Greatest" but to your clients, it is often the defining moment of their lives. And this book helps you reconnect to the reasons why you sought a lifetime devoted to the noblest of professions.
Reading about the great lawyers of in our history is humbling and worthwhile. Reflection is helpful as you try to regain a little lost idealism. And if you are a new lawyer and have all of you ideals from law school still in tact, reading this book will help you realize how important it is to never lose them. Great book for lawyers and non-lawyers alike.
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Summary: These closing arguments are social history.
Review: As a lawyer I thought that this might be interesting as a "how to book." It is not that kind of book. It is a sort of "coffee table book" that I was glad to get as a gift. The closing arguments are interesting for the way the lawyer "pitched" a case to the jury. They reflect the social milieu out of which the cases arose. I read it in bits for the sheer fun of recalling our social history.
Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating read
Review: As a reader of only non-fiction pieces, this was an excellent book. It takes a short look at the case itself, explaining what its all about, then brings you to the closing argument. I don't know if you can truly call them the "greatest" closing arguments, but they must be some of the best. The book held my attention from cover to cover. Of particular interest to me was Gerry spence on the Karen Silkwood case, Darrow on Loeb and Leopold, and the John Delorean defense, all high profile, and all well thought out defenses, The Delorean defense is sure to suprise you!
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating read
Review: As a reader of only non-fiction pieces, this was an excellent book. It takes a short look at the case itself, explaining what its all about, then brings you to the closing argument. I don't know if you can truly call them the "greatest" closing arguments, but they must be some of the best. The book held my attention from cover to cover. Of particular interest to me was Gerry spence on the Karen Silkwood case, Darrow on Loeb and Leopold, and the John Delorean defense, all high profile, and all well thought out defenses, The Delorean defense is sure to suprise you!
Rating:
Summary: Legal History
Review: Describing or reading a speech is like describing color. I guess you can do it, but nothing is the same as being there and listening and experience a great speech. There is a poetry to the delivery which is missing from a dry read. Yet, if you want to read some of the great closes from the past, this is a good place to start. This books picks 10 closing arguements which the authors state are the greatest of history. Whenever you have such a book, of course, people will differ on which closes should be included. By necessity, for mass appeal, oftentimes "famous" speeches, which may not be so great will be included while less famous speeches, which were much better, will not be the cut. I thought the ones chosen, overall, were very good. Personally I liked the ones I read. My favorite was Clarance Darrow's close in the Leopald and Loeb case. It was great because it was effective. Everyone in this case knew they were guilty and wanted them to die. How did Clarence Darrow change the judges mind? It was in his words and his delivery. This was an effective speech. There are others here which I also found very good. We hear the closing speech from the Nuremberg trials (which I would not have included because I think the win was almost preordained), the close in the Karen Silkwood civil case, the DeLorean defense close and six others. This is a good book and a good read. I would recommend it most to history fans, but I think some of the general public would also enjoy it.
Rating:
Summary: Legal History
Review: Describing or reading a speech is like describing color. I guess you can do it, but nothing is the same as being there and listening and experience a great speech. There is a poetry to the delivery which is missing from a dry read. Yet, if you want to read some of the great closes from the past, this is a good place to start. This books picks 10 closing arguements which the authors state are the greatest of history. Whenever you have such a book, of course, people will differ on which closes should be included. By necessity, for mass appeal, oftentimes "famous" speeches, which may not be so great will be included while less famous speeches, which were much better, will not be the cut. I thought the ones chosen, overall, were very good. Personally I liked the ones I read. My favorite was Clarance Darrow's close in the Leopald and Loeb case. It was great because it was effective. Everyone in this case knew they were guilty and wanted them to die. How did Clarence Darrow change the judges mind? It was in his words and his delivery. This was an effective speech. There are others here which I also found very good. We hear the closing speech from the Nuremberg trials (which I would not have included because I think the win was almost preordained), the close in the Karen Silkwood civil case, the DeLorean defense close and six others. This is a good book and a good read. I would recommend it most to history fans, but I think some of the general public would also enjoy it.
Rating:
Summary: Kept my atteion throughout. Very Intresting.
Review: Excellent book very intresting. Easy to read you don't have to be a lawyer to read. The Charles Manson chapter was especially intresting.
Rating:
Summary: Book brings to life some of the great cases of the century
Review: I found this book a must for anyone interested in famous trials. I'm an historian and not a lawyer and found it to be just what I needed to increase my knowledge of specific trials at crucial points in history. For example, the chapter on the Nazi war crimes trials allowed me to fully understand the complexities of an international war tribunal. Darrow's closing argument in the Leopold and Loeb case was one of the most erudite pieces of logic this writer has ever come across. I've given this book to many of my lawyer friends as presents. They enjoyed it as much as I did.
Rating:
Summary: OK if you want a Trial History book.
Review: I was disappointed with this book. It seemed "flat", something was missing. I think that there was not enough critical commentary and analyis on the closing arguments selected and what made them the "greatest" closing arguments in modern law. The book essentially gives the facts of the case, a brief commentary on the summation, then the summation itself. If you buy this book, read the table of contents first so that you know whether or not you are interested in reading about the chosen cases. Otherwise the book will not be a good read.
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