New ABA book looks at the trials that shook the 20th century
From the trial of Leopold and Loeb to the courtroom drama involving football legend O.J. Simpson, the 20th century produced fascinating, often shocking cases that were topics of conversation across the United States and the world.
"Ten Great American Trials: Lessons in Advocacy," a new release from the American Bar Association, puts the reader in the jury box at some of the most highly publicized, intriguing and legendary court battles of the 20th century. The book also provides an eye-opening insight into the American justice system and explores questions about the evolution of our culture, beliefs and behaviors.
Other historical trials profiled in the book involve Sacco and Vanzetti; the Scottsboro defendants; Alger Hiss; Sam Sheppard; the Nazi march in Skokie; the murder trial of Dan White; the von Bülow case; and the McMartin preschool child sex-abuse case.
"Ten Great American Trials: Lessons in Advocacy" is written by Glenn C. Altschuler and Faust F. Rossi. Altschuler is the dean of the School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions, the Thomas and Dorothy Litwin Professor of American Studies and a Weiss Presidential Fellow at Cornell University. Rossi is the Samuel S. Leibowitz Professor of Trial Techniques, Emeritus at Cornell Law School. Altschuler's op-eds and book reviews appear regularly on The Huffington Post, Psychology Today, and The Conversation US. Rossi has given hundreds of lectures to lawyers and judges in the United States and Europe.
Two lawyers craft meditation roadmap to help relieve stress, put mind at ease
Jeena Cho and Karen Gifford began meditating as practicing attorneys years ago, in part to offset the pressures and difficulties of their legal practice. Over time, they experienced how meditation and mindfulness practices support a more effective and enjoyable legal career while adding to its rewards.
So it was natural for the two San Francisco Bay Area residents to team up and share their experiences and insights in their recent release, "The Anxious Lawyer," which provides a straightforward eight-week introductory program for good mind and spirit. Published by Ankerwycke Books, a consumer imprint of the American Bar Association, their book challenges the legal community to engage in the rising interest in meditation and mindfulness that has skyrocketed in recent years, as neuroimaging and scientific research have shown the many benefits of these practices.
Cho and Gifford believe many lawyers feel hesitant to try meditation, fearing it will seem alien and inaccessible given a professional culture that places great value on logic and reason. But the program outlined in "The Anxious Lawyer" draws on numerous examples from their professional and personal lives. The result is an accessible and enjoyable entry into practices that can reduce anxiety, improve focus and clarity and enrich the quality of life - for lawyers and laypersons alike.
Gifford began meditating while balancing the demands of motherhood and a career as a litigation and enforcement attorney for the Federal Reserve. She is an investor and advisor on policy and regulatory issues in the financial technology arena. She previously worked in the private sector and as a litigation and enforcement attorney for the Federal Reserve. Gifford is also a columnist for the Huffington Post, where she writes on issues related to leadership, the workplace and the financial industry.
Cho began meditating after developing a social anxiety disorder so paralyzing it jeopardized her career as a bankruptcy attorney. She speaks and writes about creating a sustainable law practice. She is a contributor to Forbes and Above the Law, where she covers resilience, work/life integration and wellness in the workplace. Cho regularly speaks on women's issues, diversity, wellness, stress management, mindfulness and meditation.
Published: Fri, Sep 30, 2016
