Judge Sentences : Tales from the Bench.

Meagher was a judge for 17 years on the trial court of Massachusetts, and he had extensive experience in the general field of criminal justice. He presided over Boston's Municipal Court, which is the oldest tribunal in that state. This sage, experienced jurist has written a series of short pieces based on his years on the bench. Many first appeared in Boston and DoubleTake magazines. Each vignette explores a separate case from the judge's singular point of view. The cases contain virtually all of humankind's basic emotions--humor, outrage, and compassion. It suggests a form of justice that is rendered with kindness and a sense of humor, rather than with Old Testament harshness and judgment. The book is divided into eight segments, each containing a separate theme. They include, for example, "Disorderly Conduct," "Do You Know What I Do for a Living?" and "You Get What You Deserve." The book is clearly written and a joy to read for those who want more insight into the "human side" of trial court justice. It is similar to the 1974 classic Judges by Donald Dale Jackson. Summing Up: Recommended. General readers and professionals. R. A. Carp University of Houston