JUSTICE
Justice
By Jay Lillie
Reviewed by Annie Butterworth Jones; Florida Bar Journal, April, 2011
Attorney Jay Lillie’s newly-released novel, Justice, opens with the death of a young journalist in Chicago, but the story quickly twists and turns its way to Washington, D.C., where the mystery of the young man’s untimely death becomes part of a deeper political secret.
Justice is largely based on what the author describes as a little-known fact: that the Constitution does not require U.S. citizenship of Supreme Court justices. Although the book begins as Chicago detective Julia Gold attempts to solve a seemingly random murder in Chicago’s southside, much of the action takes place in Washington, as presidential and congressional insiders — including Katherine Stevens, a law clerk at the Supreme Court — discuss the recent judicial appointment of Justice Joan Chartier.
Lillie manages to weave both plot lines together almost effortlessly, though readers may begin to wonder what progress Detective Gold is making in Chicago; action in the middle portion of the novel resides solely with Stevens in Washington.
Overall, Justice is an intriguing page-turner, offering readers a diverse and engaging cast of characters and a thought-provoking legal mystery. Lillie explores several different aspects of the legal world, first through the eyes of Stevens as she clerks for a Supreme Court justice, then through Gordon Cox, an attorney and unofficial advisor to the President during the Senate Judiciary Confirmation Hearings. Lillie’s legal experience is apparent as he discusses the fictional hearings in detail, offering a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into appointing someone to the position of U.S. Supreme Court Justice.
The 250-page novel — available in both paperback and electronic formats — can be purchased through Amazon and other major booksellers for $15.
Annie Butterworth Jones is an associate editor for The Florida Bar News and Journal.
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