Justice Overruled: Unmasking the Criminal Justice System - Hardcover

Burton S. Katz, a former prosecutor and trial judge, blames the Supreme Court for creating an atmosphere in which the hands of police are tied while known criminals are set free--not because of a dearth of evidence, but due to technicalities and a procedural maze. Katz argues that by creating legal loopholes for defense attorneys, law enforcement officers are more likely to bend the truth concerning how evidence was gathered and whether a defendant was read their rights correctly, a widespread phenomenon known as "testi-lying." This, he says, is not due to dishonesty, but to an understanding of the procedure that must be followed in order to ensure that justice prevails. Along with his critique he offers recommendations for fixing what he views as a broken system, namely by relaxing the current rules regarding gathering of evidence and obtaining confessions--indeed a case of backing up to move forward, for this was precisely the system employed before the Supreme Court effected the changes that Katz rails against. In light of recent high-profile cases involving Rodney King, O.J. Simpson, and the Menendez brothers, Justice Overruled is a timely and pragmatic approach to criminal justice reform from a 25-year insider.

Katz was a judge for 14 years on the L.A. municipal courts.