Legal Miscellaneous III

Ready for sentencing . J.D. Casswell

This book, in an Argos edition of 1962 present the work of an English magistrate, includes his legal practice, first as a litigant and second as a judge, from the beginning of the second decade of the twentieth century, to the sixth decade of it.

He tells us in the first place of his humble family origin, and his beginnings in juridical work (including a marginal participation in the litigation originated from the sinking of the Titanic), until the first world war in which he participates. Then the complexities of returning to the civil and legal world, and so we are narrating various cases, mainly criminal, clients convicted at the time (including a woman), others saved; and even homicide on the high seas. He concludes by recounting some of his interventions as a high judge, already in the final part of his professional life.

The narrative is interesting, although for a few moments the rhythm decays, without it being possible to define it either by reason of the original text, or by  the translation. It is very interesting the description that makes of each client or relevant person in the cases, as a good criminal lawyer has a lot of psychologist. Likewise, it is attractive how he prepares each case, and the description he makes of the judges with whom he has to litigate.

For those of us who know only by reference the litigation in Anglo-Saxon common law, it is an introductory and practical text, which allows us to empathize with its author, despite its cold and unemotional prose.