Independence corrupted : how America's judges make their decisions / Charles Benjamin Schudson.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Preface: sacred words -- Introduction : Independence and corruption -- Part One. Judges. Who's the judge? -- The prosecutor's perspective -- The decision-making ideal -- Part Two. In chambers. The trial judge : birth, aborted : State v. Monica Migliorino Miller -- The appellate judge : birth, premature : Peterman v. Midwestern National Insurance Company, Special Products, Inc., Frank A. Busalacchi, and Visuals Plus, Inc. -- Standard of review : casting the legal drama -- The trial judge : life, and a lost teenager : In the interest of S.W., a child under eighteen years of age -- The appellate judge : life, and a sex predator : State v. Shawn Schulpius -- The trial judge : death, and a cherished child : State v. Anthony C. McClain -- The appellate judge : death, and three widows : Wischer v. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of America, Inc. -- The trial judge : religion, and white supremacists : State v. Hollin Lange and Patrick O'Malley -- The appellate judge : politics, "out on the point" : State v. L.C. Clay -- Indigestion : food, mood, and more -- Part Three. Vanishing independence. Judicial campaigns : declarations and contributions -- Begging the question : elective or appointive? -- Afterword: fathers and grandfathers.

"[The author] takes readers behind the bench to probe judicial minds analyzing actual trials and sentencings--of abortion protesters, murderers, sex predators, white supremacists, and others. He takes us into chambers to hear judges forging appellate decisions about life and death, multimillion-dollar damages, and priceless civil rights. And, most significantly, he exposes the financial, political, personal, and professional pressures that threaten judicial ethics and independence. As political attacks on judges increase, [the author] calls for reforms to protect judicial independence and for vigilance to ensure justice for all."-- Provided by publisher

Online resource; title from PDF title page (EBSCO, viewed October 15, 2018).

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