Attorney for the Damned, Clarence Darrow in His Own Words

by Arthur Weinberg

Attorney for the Damned, Clarence Darrow in His Own Words - A collection of words by Clarence Darrow from court transcripts edited and notes added by Arthur Weinberg, foreword by Justice William O. Douglas

Genres: Nonfiction, Law, History, Biography, Politics

552 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1901

Reviews

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Transcripts of his closing arguments, all of which were delivered without notes. Passionate as hell. They say he never opened a law book; he argued and won by appealing to morality alone. The man was a philosopher and a student (professor?) of the human condition. An extremely important and worthwhile book.

Darrow represented everyone from a couple kids who killed a young boy (and were facing the death penalty), to a black person who killed a white man in self defence, to a teacher arrested for teaching evolution in the south, to unions who faced strike-breakers. His speeches were no holds barred. In the union speech, for example, he went on at length about how and why communism is awesome. He was brilliant and compelling.

I've bought the book about 5 times because I keep losing it.

There are two books titled "Attorney for the Damned" -- make sure to buy this one. The other one is totally different.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This compilation of "greatest hits" from Darrow's trials is a great read. Darrow's eloquence is extraordinary. Many classic moments are here: Darrow's cross-examination of William Jennings Bryan in the Scopes trial (some of which was lifted, almost verbatim, in "Inherit the Wind"); Darrow's plea for the lives of Leopold and Loeb during their infamous murder trial and much more.

[Spectre · Rating 2 out of 5]

Clarence Darrow was certainly an effective defense attorney whose eloquent closing arguments were a huge part of his record of success. I found myself spellbound reading the earlier chapters of this collection of his arguments, but as I continued to read further I felt as if it were "deja vu all over again" so I can easily say, as a book, Attorney For The Damned, fell short of my expectations.

[Avis Black · Rating 1 out of 5]

"I really do not in the least believe in crime. There is no such thing as a crime as the word is generally understood. I do not believe there is any sort of distinction between the real moral conditions of the people in and out of jail."

F*** you, Darrow. You deserve a one-star just for saying that. It is true that Darrow lived before the era in which sociopathy and psychopathy had been codified by psychiatrists, but there is no way any man of common sense could associate with criminals for his entire career, listen to their confessions, lies, and excuses, while going over every speck of available evidence in the courtroom, and still believe that heinous crimes, criminals, and evil do not exist.

You have to be dumber than pig drool to believe that.

But when scumbags are paying your salary, you'll say anything. Even a good man's soul can be bought by a dirtbag's money.

[Courtney Skelton · Rating 3 out of 5]

When you look up the word tenacious in the dictionary, it should have Clarence Darrow’s picture in the description. Unbelievably well read, and passionate about helping his clients with every thing he has. He did lose me sometimes with the phrases he used, but that doesn’t change one thing. If I had the chance to have any lawyer in history defend me, I would choose Clarence every time.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clarence Darrow's most profound defenses. He has always been a hero of mine for the Leopold and Loeb and Scopes monkey trials, but learning about his other cases solidified him in my mind as a great American hero, ahead of his time.

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

A liberal, he wan many cases appealing to the jury's emotions. This is an interesting collection of cases that could today go the other way. For example the "unwritten law" today seems like a replay of the Duke Rape Case. He husbands rage and murderous deed - equally as dangerous as vilgilante justice - and certainly not with the help of his enlisted men. This cases is today - inconceivable - but it does paint a very useful picture on how to play a jury, of which Darrow (except in his own defense) was very capable.

[Craig Bolton]

Attorney for the Damned: Clarence Darrow in the Courtroom by Clarence Darrow (1989)