Power to Hurt: Inside a Judge's Chambers : Sexual Assault, Corruption, and the Ultimate Reversal of Justice for Women

by Darcy O'Brien

Chronicles the crimes of Judge David W. Lanier, who used his political powers to rape and abuse women, until two FBI agents brought his deeds to light in a landmark federal case. Reprint.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Law

528 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 1, 1996

About the author

Darcy O'Brien was born in Los Angeles, the son of Hollywood silent film actor George O’Brien and actress Marguerite Churchill.

O'Brien attended Princeton University and University of Cambridge, and received a master's degree and doctorate from the University of California, Berkely. From 1965 to 1978 he was a professor of English at Pomona College. In 1978 he moved to Tulsa, and taught at the Univesity of Tulsa until 1995.

O'Brien was married three times and had one daughter named Molly O'Brien.

O'Brien died of a heart attack in Tulsa on March 2, 1998.

Reviews

[♥ Marlene♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Copying my update that I wrote today March 21 2016.

Well, I'm on page 200 of 374 of Power To Hurt: I think this is well written (did not expect otherwise because Darcy O'Brien wrote this)



but it does feel like it takes me very long to read. Maybe because when i read I fall asleep? I think I have read one sentence 20 times if not more last night.

Update 22 March 2016

Finished yesterday. Finally managed to get in a good hour of reading instead of 1 minute lol.

What a great read. What saddens me when I was thinking about this book which was written in the seventies that hardly anything has changed for women.
Yes we can initiate sex and all but it is still so that when men have sex they are heroes while women are trashy or cheap and they give in too soon.

If I read the news stories and especially comments it is still the case that women are very cruel to fellow women.
Women are still expected to behave while men oh boys will be boys.

This book is so good because it is so highly personal. Wow I have been on a roll lately. Have read quite a lot of great books.

4.5 stars

[Tom Kammerer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit sensational and how bout that epilogue?!

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had low expectations, but this turned out to be a well-told, well-written story. Published in 1996, and chronicling events of several years earlier, it was a great reminder of how society has changed in 20 years in terms of awareness and prevention of sexual harassment, especially in the workplace. The book tells the story of how a powerful and corrupt county judge in Tennessee was convicted in a federal court of civil rights violations, after more than two dozen brave women came forward to tell their stories, either during the trial, in previous grand jury testimony, or to FBI agents who put the case together. The author skillfully gets inside the heads of several main players, including one of the women and one of the FBI agents, and tells the story mostly from their perspectives, while still maintaining balance and not glossing over their faults.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing example of how messed up the justice system can be at times and how much power those who run the system have.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

The perception of power is often greater than the power itself.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. It is so sad what people with power can get away with even still.

A must read