One of the cornerstones of the American constitution system is the principle of "equal justice under law." While we like to think of our justice system as available to everyone, that may not really be the case.
This book challenges the idea that the legal system in the United States is in fact available to all sectors of society - especially the middle and lower classes. The author tries to understand why this is the case, in what manner the justice system is unequal and offers some ideas about how this situation can be rectified - but she does not sound optimistic.
This is easily one of the more depressing books I've assigned, but its also one of the more provocative.
The sections on the judiciary and civil rights are clearly applicable here, as are the stories you'll find by clicking on some of these old blog posts. Gloss through these and think about a relevant topic.
- 14th Amendment.
- appeals.
- civil rights.
- criminal justice.
- death penalty.
- equal protection.
- equality.
- lawyers.
- police procedures.
- probable cause.
- race.
- Supreme Court.
