The Judicial Process: Law, Courts, and Judicial Politics is an all-new, concise yet comprehensive core text that introduces students to the nature and significance of the judicial process in the United States and across the globe. It is social scientific in its approach, situating the role of the courts and their impact on public policy within a strong foundation in legal theory, or political jurisprudence, as well as legal scholarship. Authors Christopher P. Banks and David M. O’Brien do not shy away from the politics of the judicial process, and offer unique insight into cutting-edge and highly relevant issues. In its distinctive boxes, “Contemporary Controversies over Courts” and “In Comparative Perspective,” the text examines topics such as the dispute pyramid, the law and morality of same-sex marriages, the “hardball politics” of judicial selection, plea bargaining trends, the right to counsel and “pay as you go” justice, judicial decisions limiting the availability of class actions, constitutional courts in Europe, the judicial role in creating major social change, and the role lawyers, juries and alternative dispute resolution techniques play in the U.S. and throughout the world. Photos, cartoons, charts, and graphs are used throughout the text to facilitate student learning and highlight key aspects of the judicial process.

Part I of the book provides a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction survey of the class action, group, collective, derivative, and other representative action procedures available across the globe. Each chapter is written from a local perspective, by an attorney familiar with the laws, best practices, legal climate, and culture of the jurisdiction.

Addressing product liability concerns and laws both in the U.S. and internationally, this book helps manufacturers and engineers develop and implement proactive processes that can reduce liability concerns and potential lawsuits. It discusses preventive measures in the engineering, development, and manufacturing of products and explains the procedures and processes manufacturers must have in place to reduce the likelihood of liability as well as to provide the best defense in case of a lawsuit. This is a premier resource for engineers, manufacturers, risk managers, and others concerned about product liability.

This is the first book ever written for the defense on how to avoid runaway jury verdicts. I wrote this book because I care about fairness. I believe everyone has the right to a fair trial, not just plaintiff lawyers and their clients. Defendants are entitled to have a jury decide their case without being stirred with passion and bias by creative plaintiff lawyers. This is the defense "playbook" for justice. You will learn trial techniques to even the playing field for defendants seeking a fair trial. Every aspect of a civil jury trial will be covered, from voir dire to opening statements to witnesses and finally closing arguments. There is a formula for defeating plaintiff attorneys' deceptive tactics and psychological gamesmanship, and you will learn it. While full of 30 years of trial victories and personal experiences, this is a "how to" book. How to defend at trial. How to beat plaintiff attorneys at their own game. How to win. It is time to bring an end to the epidemic of nuclear verdicts across our country. It is time for you to take back justice for all! NUCLEAR VERDICTS MUST BE STOPPED! YOU CAN STOP THEM. RESPONSIBILITY. In every jury trial, accepting responsibility is not only the right thing to do, it is the most important thing you will do, no exceptions. Own what you did in every single jury trial, no excuses. REASONABLENESS. Be the most reasonable person in the courtroom. Do not take the typical defense approach of ­ fighting every little thing. Show the jury you care, and they will return a verdict that is fair and just for all. COMMON SENSE. The ultimate equalizer in any case is common sense. It allows the jury to come to a conclusion that is fair and reasonable. You must go beyond the evidence and the law, and help the jury apply their common sense for a righteous verdict.

Drawing upon insights from law and politics, Multi-Party Litigation outlines the historical development, political design, and regulatory desirability of multi-party litigation strategies in cross-national perspective and describes a battle being fought on multiple fronts by competing interests. By addressing the potential and constraints of litigation, this book offers a comprehensive account of an international issue that will interest students and practitioners of law, politics, and public policy.

"In Civil Justice Reconsidered, Steven Croley demonstrates that civil litigation is, for the most part, socially beneficial. An effective civil litigation system is accessible to parties who have suffered legal wrongs, and it is reliable in the sense that those with stronger claims tend to prevail over those with weaker claims. However, while most of the system's failures are overstated, they are not wholly off base; civil litigation often imposes excessive costs that, among other unfortunate consequences, impede access to the courts, and Croley offers ways to reform civil litigation in the interest of justice for potential plaintiffs and defendants, and for the rule of law itself"--Publisher's web site, viewed February 10, 2017.