(39. – 926.) The Color of Law by Mark Gimenez (2005) – A. Scott Feeney has a
perfect life. A great athlete he was a star running back at SMU (Southern
Methodist University) in Dallas who became a legend after rushing for 193 yards
against the University of Texas. As bright as he was athletic Scott was 1st
in his law school class. He is charming and handsome. Ford Stevens, the largest
and most prestigious law firm in Dallas, recruited him out of law school. He
rose swiftly to partner status and is earning $750,000 annually. He has a $3.5
million house in the exclusive Town of Highland Park. His wife, Rebecca, was
Miss SMU and is poised to become Chair of the Cattle Barons Ball. His 9 year
old daughter, Boo, is precocious and fascinated by the practice of law. (They
are reading the U.S. Constitution clause by clause for a bedtime story.)
Scott finds the legal solutions for
his wealthy corporate clients. His most important client, developer Tom Dibrell,
pays the firm $3,000,000 a year to deal with his issues. Whether corporate or
personal Scott is ready. Early in the book he negotiates a $1,000,000
settlement of a sexual harassment complaint against Dibrell. It is not Dibrell’s
first settlement.
Then District Court Judge Samuel
Buford calls Scott to his office. Though Scott is not a criminal lawyer the
judge has decided to appoint him to represent Shawanda Jones charged with murdering
Clark McCall. He was the son of Mack McCall. Mack is the senior Senator from
Texas and a presidential candidate. Jones is a young black prostitute with a
heroin addiction. The judge wants to make sure she has capable counsel. With the
firm having a significant federal court practice Scott accepts the appointment.
Senior partner, really firm
dictator, Dan Ford schemes for Scott to actually avoid representing Shawanda. Eventually
Scott hires a struggling classmate, Bobby Herrin, who practices criminal law to
take over but Shawanda insists upon Scott.
At home tensions rise when Scott
agrees that Shawanda’s 9 year old daughter, Pajamae, can live with him until
the trial is over as Shawanda cannot afford bail.
Scott faces a dilemma. Shawanda will
not oblige everyone by pleading guilty. Though the evidence is strong she
insists she is innocent. The firm insists he find a way to be removed as her
counsel or convince her to make a plea bargain.
Scott must address why he is a
lawyer. He has obligations to his firm and regular clients and Shawanda. Those varied
commitments conflict.
Gimenez provides an interesting
exploration of the resolution of that conflict and the consequences for all
involved.
I can see why there are blurbs
referencing John Grisham. Gimenez provides an unflattering portrayal of big
firm law in America. Grisham has taken the same approach in several books.
The relationship between Boo and
Pajamae was very well done. The girls bounce from innocent to being worldly. I found
myself eager to know what they would be doing in the book.
In my next post I will discuss Scott’s
representation of Shawanda. There will be more detail some readers many not
want and possibly some spoilers so I decided to separate the review.
The
Color of Law is a good book.
This review made me think of Grisham straightaway, and also of a non-fiction book I read about a US lawyer, James B Donovan, representing a Russian spy in the 50s against the wishes of many people inside and outside his firm, the Bridge of Spies case.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like just the kind of legal thriller I like, so I will try to find it - and come back to your next post after I've read it!
Moira: Thanks for the comment. The book about Donovan sounds like a book I would like to read. I hope your The Color of Law and then come back to read about the trial and comment.
DeleteThis really does sound like a well-written book, Bill. I'm intrigued by the class differences between the girls, and how that's handled. I'm also interested in how this case will pan out. And that, to me, is a sign of a good legal novel: when it matters to me how the trial will pan out, and what happens to the characters. I'll be interested in your next post on this one.
ReplyDeleteMargot: Thanks for the comment. It is very well written especially as it was the author's first book as far as I can tell. Class differences are not ignored. How they are dealt with is impressive.
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