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The Professor Nedley Series

Reviews of Books, Articles & An Occasional Movie

Friday, April 11, 2008

The usual purpose here is to keep the reader up-top-date on articles of interest to Family Law attorneys, judges and the public.  There are always a plethora of writings out there of interest to all of us who struggle together in the family law arena.  The books that come to mind over the years are such as Judith Wallerstein's fundamental book on the effects of divorce on approximately 60 families from Marin County as well as her followup books 10 and 25 years later that graphically portrayed the immediate and long-term effects of family breakups.  Newspaper articles that  come to mind are often found in the Los Angeles Daily Journal by such diverse authors as Fred Silverberg and Mitch Jacobs - always interesting.  The Professor simply wants to alert you to their existence.  A very solid review of books on divorce is done by a San Diego lawyer - Paul Staley - and is available at http://www.divorceinfo.com/bestbooks.htm

This month's alert, being the very first, is an special treat.  The book is "The Nuremberg Legacy".  It is written by our very own Judge Norbert Ehrenfreund.  It is published by palgrave/macmillan and is available on Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b/105-2440396-4900454?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=the+nuremberg+legacy&x=7&y=23).  Over the years, we in San Diego have come to know Norby as the presenter of the "Norby" award for fine accomplishment in family law, but we've come to know little of Norb before he became a lawyer.  It's hard to believe, but over 60 years ago, Judge Ehrenfreund was a reporter for the Stars & Stripes news covering the Nuremberg trials.  This is life that few alive have experienced. 

The trials themselves were watched worldwide and imparted a respect for due process that has carried over to most civilized countries, literally down to their city council meetings.  (It's possible that Dick Cheney and Alberto Gonzales were never city councilmen).  Judge Ehrenfreund draws from his legal background and his experience as a correspondent for the S&S's to give a fresh perspective to the precedents that were set in the late 40's and have carried over until today and have helped to formulate our views on national and international law.

The lead review on the book is by renowned Professor Alan Dershowitz, of one of those eastern law schools that the professor cannot quite remember. (Heart surgery takes its toll, you know).  We'll call the school - "The Hastings of the East".  He says that the book "combines fascinating anecdotes with brilliant insights and will educate and inspire.  It is as relevant today, as we confront a new form of totalitarian terrorism and we can only hope that we bring its perpetrators to justice under the Nuremberg principles".

The Professor doubts that there are any people alive today that can bring both the personal presence at a trial experience so large and a background of more than 20, no 30, no more likely, 40 years on the bench and boil it down into simple, understandable principals of justice that all of us can understand if we simply listen.

DO ME A FAVOR, NO - DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND GO TO AMAZON AND BUY NORB'S BOOK TODAY.