Diary of a DA: The True Story of the Prosecutor Who Took on the Mob, Fought Corruption, and Won

by Herbert J. Stern

In 1961, twenty-five-year-old Herbert Jay Stern, fresh from reserve duty, stood in his green army uniform in a New York County courtroom to be sworn in as an attorney. He could only guess what his life as a prosecuting lawyer would be. A dozen years later, in the wake of the national scandal of Watergate, Stern, draped in black robes now, would take the oath of office as a federal judge. In the years between, the idealistic young Stern would sharpen his skills in the realities of the criminal courts of New York City, to emerge as the lead trial attorney for the Justice Department, charged with breaking the back of organized crime in New Jersey.

Stern’s highly charged account of his outright war against powerful state government officials and the mafia takes us deep inside the mechanisms of law and order during a time when assassinations came fast and loose, cities were burning in race riots, and racketeering and graft were so prevalent in the Garden State that its own senator called it a “stench in the nostrils and an offense to the vision of the world.” Before Stern and his equally dedicated colleagues on the “strike force” out of Washington, D.C., are finished, they will have successfully prosecuted the mayors of Jersey City, Newark, and Atlantic City for being on the take; a congressman for conspiracy, tax violations, and perjury; and blackened the eye of organized crime.

Genres: Audiobook, Biography, Nonfiction, Legal, Law, True Crime

576 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2012

Reviews

[Roberta Westwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite good

This was a long and complicated tale dealing with law at the highest levels in the USA. As a Canadian, I confess I tuned out in some parts. The author certainly had an interesting life, and the way the book is written and narrated it felt like he was pinching himself all the time. The mob stuff was interesting too.

I listened to the Audible audiobook.

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The depth in which the roots of the mafia/mob run within our country's legal system is astounding. It is a subject that we whisper about and we "know", but we don't "know". This was quite eye opening in some areas and confirmation of things I'd heard discussed in others. To think a group of people, a "family" can maintain a stronghold control from street level, to the Presidential Oval Office is dumbfounding to me.
This book is a criminal lesson as well as a history lesson. If true crime is your thing, add this to your tbr.
Happy page turning

[Laurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me longer than expected to finish this book, perhaps because of its depth. All in all, A great look behind closed doors at the growth of an attorney toward the career of a lifetime.

[Петр Федичев · Rating 5 out of 5]

something from accomplished men from other walks of life

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed! Some arrogance all around, but the real cases create a tale well told. [I tend to think some arrogance is a must for a good trial attorney. Although it may also become their downfall.]

[Brian S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly a collection of prosecutor's war stories, but there are some pretty good ones in here.

[Dorian Santiago · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well-written memoir, although a bit dense; it took me longer than most other books to read.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good, inside look at how a dedicated prosecutor's office functions in a challenging political environment.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating for lawyers and non-lawyers alike. It felt like I was observing a cross between an episode of Law & Order, the West Wing and a Sopranos episode. As a big Sapranos fan, I was also intruiged because Tony Saprano was based on one of the mobsters in this book. I was also amazed that one of the mobsters in the book actually kept an incinerator at his house to deal with disloyal people. I thought that stuff was embellished for tv and movies.

Diane - a friend of mine found it on Kindle, weird.

[Diane Charron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written and if you enjoy law, fascinating. A true story that I found kept me wanting to read more. Not available as an e-book