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Jacket: The Trials of a New Jersey Criminal Defense Attorney
This engaging, irreverent, and most unusual memoir by Trenton attorney John Hartmann puts a human face on dysfunctional Jersey justice. Hartmann s self-deprecating wit and keen eye for all things absurd and ironic reveal him as an equal-opportunity ridiculer from overbearing lawyers and judges to cocky cops, clueless clients, pretentious politicians, and a raft of hapless dealers, deadbeats, prisoners, and prostitutes. Central to Jacket is the story of Hartmann s client Nate Smith wrongly identified in a robbery and locked up for a crime he probably didn t commit.
As Hartmann recalls Nate's case, he dishes out amusing anecdotes, shares Garden State trivia, admits to various personal quirks and shortcomings, and offers a treasure trove of advice on how to start a legal practice, prepare clients for trial, cross-examine witnesses, pick juries, and make prison hooch. Jacket is a must-read for aspiring lawyers, lawbreakers, and Law and Order fans. (And, of course, for all you practicing New Jersey criminal defense attorneys out there.)
The prestigious Kirkus Reviews praised “Jacket” saying: "[Hartmann's] reflections are entertainingly scattershot, nimbly jumping from one impossibly absurd scenario to another, capturing the surreal wheels of justice in motion. A keen, lighthearted look at the human side of law".
As Hartmann recalls Nate's case, he dishes out amusing anecdotes, shares Garden State trivia, admits to various personal quirks and shortcomings, and offers a treasure trove of advice on how to start a legal practice, prepare clients for trial, cross-examine witnesses, pick juries, and make prison hooch. Jacket is a must-read for aspiring lawyers, lawbreakers, and Law and Order fans. (And, of course, for all you practicing New Jersey criminal defense attorneys out there.)
The prestigious Kirkus Reviews praised “Jacket” saying: "[Hartmann's] reflections are entertainingly scattershot, nimbly jumping from one impossibly absurd scenario to another, capturing the surreal wheels of justice in motion. A keen, lighthearted look at the human side of law".
- GenresLawCrimeNonfiction
200 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2012
2 people are currently reading
251 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 10, 2013
I met John Hartmann at a book signing one evening at Barnes and Noble. I purchased the book with great anticipation as I could tell straight away he was not just knowledgeable but funny. The good kind of funny. As a nurse we have our inside humor that people cannot grasp for a plethora of reasons. But John Hartmann brings his inside humor to the public on his pages that leaves you wanting more. His observations and wit really drive the criminal system in NJ home. As someone who had to deal with the family court system at one point in my life, I knew the building and that slow elevator and was thrilled to read about my experience in a book. Just the feel of the courthouse and the people that work it, he brings it all together in his book.
I was nervous while he signed my book, as I had to tell him (and I did) "you really need to write fiction, you would put the Lincoln Lawyer to shame." I hope he does, I can see a bright book future for Mr. Hartmann, he is truly talented in sharing a good yarn or two or five.
I was nervous while he signed my book, as I had to tell him (and I did) "you really need to write fiction, you would put the Lincoln Lawyer to shame." I hope he does, I can see a bright book future for Mr. Hartmann, he is truly talented in sharing a good yarn or two or five.
November 17, 2021
Aside from the fact that the author cheated in law school and thinks Dick Cheney’s a stand-up guy (yes, really), this is an okay read.
On the one hand, he mostly seems to respect and have empathy for his clients. On the other, he makes a couple of snide and borderline (or maybe full-blown) racist comments in the interests of making the book “funny.”
There’s also a distinct undercurrent of sexism. He mentions he swears in front of his male clients, but not his female ones. Uh, why? He mentions a difficult client who had previously been “assigned a female public defender” and “made her life so miserable that she went crying to [her supervisor], who promptly relieved her of the case and dumped it on me.” Why mention that the previous public defender was female? Would he have mentioned it if he had been assigned a “male public defender”? No, he’s mentioning it because, quite clearly, he thinks women aren’t tough enough for the job.
Despite those complaints, I’m still giving it two stars because it was interesting to see comparisons between New Jersey & Colorado defense law (and between private & public defense), as at the time I read this, I was a practicing public defender. I particularly liked the story of him & the public defender in his court room discussing a new prosecutor who gives outrageous offers, and tacitly agreeing to set every single case for trial until they crack. Why’s this funny? Because I’ve done this. It works.
I’m also thanking him for this passage, on whether former prosecutors really make the best defense attorneys: “This is flat out wrong. Prosecutors almost always have the mindset that everyone is guilty. Somebody who comes from a public defender’s office, on the other hand, will at least give you the benefit of the doubt, and if you are guilty, they won’t care. Public defenders spend their time getting guilty people off, and they learn a hundred tricks along the way. There is no comparison. If your back is against the wall, you’re better off with an old, long-haired hippie public defender in khakis than with an ex-prosecutor in a perfectly tailored suit.”
*bows* bless you for saying that.
And this fucking gem of a line: “There is this misconception that prosecutors are great cross-examiners, a fallacy perpetrated by television. In most trials, prosecutors don’t even have the opportunity to cross-examine witnesses. In fact, if you can say the words ‘And then what happened?’ you, too, can prosecute a double homicide.”
Okay, okay, so he’s a funny guy. If only I weren’t confident I would heartily dislike him if we ever met.
On the one hand, he mostly seems to respect and have empathy for his clients. On the other, he makes a couple of snide and borderline (or maybe full-blown) racist comments in the interests of making the book “funny.”
There’s also a distinct undercurrent of sexism. He mentions he swears in front of his male clients, but not his female ones. Uh, why? He mentions a difficult client who had previously been “assigned a female public defender” and “made her life so miserable that she went crying to [her supervisor], who promptly relieved her of the case and dumped it on me.” Why mention that the previous public defender was female? Would he have mentioned it if he had been assigned a “male public defender”? No, he’s mentioning it because, quite clearly, he thinks women aren’t tough enough for the job.
Despite those complaints, I’m still giving it two stars because it was interesting to see comparisons between New Jersey & Colorado defense law (and between private & public defense), as at the time I read this, I was a practicing public defender. I particularly liked the story of him & the public defender in his court room discussing a new prosecutor who gives outrageous offers, and tacitly agreeing to set every single case for trial until they crack. Why’s this funny? Because I’ve done this. It works.
I’m also thanking him for this passage, on whether former prosecutors really make the best defense attorneys: “This is flat out wrong. Prosecutors almost always have the mindset that everyone is guilty. Somebody who comes from a public defender’s office, on the other hand, will at least give you the benefit of the doubt, and if you are guilty, they won’t care. Public defenders spend their time getting guilty people off, and they learn a hundred tricks along the way. There is no comparison. If your back is against the wall, you’re better off with an old, long-haired hippie public defender in khakis than with an ex-prosecutor in a perfectly tailored suit.”
*bows* bless you for saying that.
And this fucking gem of a line: “There is this misconception that prosecutors are great cross-examiners, a fallacy perpetrated by television. In most trials, prosecutors don’t even have the opportunity to cross-examine witnesses. In fact, if you can say the words ‘And then what happened?’ you, too, can prosecute a double homicide.”
Okay, okay, so he’s a funny guy. If only I weren’t confident I would heartily dislike him if we ever met.
January 25, 2013
This book drew me in from the first! John Hartmann's "Jacket" weaves his many and colorful experiences with the NJ Justice system with an uplifting depiction of one of his most edifying cases...with an innocent client. John displays an open and favorable regard for the great state of New Jersey despite the obvious corruption and dubious reputation. Hartmann is as sharp and witty and wise and he is humane. "Jacket" will start you laughing and leave you better informed than any other legal memoir out there.
December 20, 2013
Quick-paced and often funny memoir by a private criminal defense lawyer. This is not a tale of headline-grabbing cases: no mass murders or million-dollar heists, just convenience store robbery, drug possession, bar fights, and so on. (He does mention a could of murder cases, but not the headline-grabbing kind.) The author is a zealous and effective advocate but doesn't pretend to like or respect a lot of his clients.
There's also a little about NJ politics: president of the Georgetown Young Republicans in college, Hartmann was elected to the NJ assembly and served a term while he was in law school.
There's also a little about NJ politics: president of the Georgetown Young Republicans in college, Hartmann was elected to the NJ assembly and served a term while he was in law school.
December 24, 2012
RECEIVED FREE FROM GOODREADS FIRST READS. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and completed it within a few sittings! The pace is fast, the story compelling, and the humor quirky. It is an entertaining read and I even learned something about our judicial system. I had the perception that defense attorneys were a little sketchy, but Hartamnn's account made me realize that the deck might be stacked in favor of the prosecution and that defense attorneys play a critical role in leveling the playing field.
March 25, 2013
This was truly a great book looking into the real life of a Criminal Defense attorney here in New Jersey. This goes more in depth than the other books that I have read on the subject. I would seriously recommend this book to anyone who wants to be an attorney so you can see the reality of what an attorney goes though who is not a celebrity, but does all of the nitty-gritty work to make our legal system go. This is one of the best books I've read in a long time. Thank you, Mr. Hartmann.
January 7, 2013
I won this book through the goodreads giveaways. I saw a whole new side to what goes on behind the scenes for a defense attorney and thoroughly enjoyed this book. The only issue I have is that at times, Mr. Hartmann seemed a little boastful and full of himself at times. I also didn't like how he made liberals out to be the devil. I'd actually give this book 3.5 stars. I enjoyed it but some things just put me off.
June 1, 2013
Intriguing, amusing, and informative (though maybe I was better off before I found out how the legal system and the state government in NJ actually work...).
Disclaimer: I copyedited this book for the publisher, but I have no other connection with the author. I'm recommending it just because I really enjoyed reading it!
Disclaimer: I copyedited this book for the publisher, but I have no other connection with the author. I'm recommending it just because I really enjoyed reading it!
November 27, 2013
Awesome book! This book is not only funny, it's informative and slightly scary. Scary because the system doesn't really work that well. But on occasion, with a lawyer who cares about his/her client and a bit of luck, justice takes her blunders off and can actually see the truth. Fantastic book and now I have a defense attorney if I need one. ;)
February 20, 2013
**I was given a copy for an honest review**
This was a fun read. I laughed out loud a lot. My husband kept looking at me funny for laughing, then when I told him about the book, he decided he wants to read it. And he is not a reader. :) Great job Mr. Hartmann.
This was a fun read. I laughed out loud a lot. My husband kept looking at me funny for laughing, then when I told him about the book, he decided he wants to read it. And he is not a reader. :) Great job Mr. Hartmann.
December 26, 2012
I found this book to be pretty interesting. It is a very easy read and the author really draws you in. Since I'm from Jersey I found the places and cases referenced very interesting. Excellent read. Would definitely recommend.
May 11, 2013
A funny (but not cynical) read of special interest to New Jersey people. It is this type of humor where the author doesn't push himself to be entertaining and invent stories - real life is good enough to make you LOL.
February 17, 2013
Quick read. Would recommend for prospective defense attorneys.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews