''My Life in Court'' is a 1961 memoir by American trial lawyer Louis Nizer documenting his career in law. The work was a best seller when it was first released, lasting for 72 weeks on ''The New York Times'' Bestsellers list.

Background

The book is based on a number of court cases that Nizer argued in US courts. The original papers for many of these trials are held by the Columbia Law Library.

All six cases depicted within the book are civil cases, which is unusual for legal fiction and non-fiction because of the greater sensationality of criminal law cases. The book depicts the following cases: * '' Baron v. Leo Feist'' * ''

Reynolds v. Pegler ''Reynolds v. Pegler'', 223 F.2d 429 ( 2nd Cir. 1955), was a landmark libel decision in which Quentin Reynolds successfully sued right-wing columnist Westbrook Pegler, resulting in a record judgment of $175,001. The case has its origins in a he ...

'' (a landmark libel decision in which Quentin Reynolds successfully sued right-wing columnist Westbrook Pegler, resulting in a record judgment of $175,001) * '' Bercovici v. Chaplin'' (a plagiarism lawsuit in 1947 against Charlie Chaplin) * ''Cambell v. Loew's Inc.''—which was presided over by judge

Collins J. Seitz Collins Jacques Seitz (June 20, 1914 – October 16, 1998) was a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Education and career Born on June 20, 1914, in Wilmington, Delaware, Seitz received an Ar ...

. * ''

Eleanor Holm Eleanor G. Holm (December 6, 1913 – January 31, 2004) was an American competition swimmer and Olympic gold medalist. An Olympian in 1928 and 1932, she was expelled from the 1936 Summer Olympics team by Avery Brundage under controversial circu ...

Billy Rose Billy Rose (born William Samuel Rosenberg; September 6, 1899 – February 10, 1966) was an American impresario, theatrical showman and lyricist. For years both before and after World War II, Billy Rose was a major force in entertainment, with ...

'' * '' Foerster v. Ridder'' * '' Dolly Astor v. John Astor''

Reception

The book was received favorably. ''

Commentary Commentary or commentaries may refer to: Publications * ''Commentary'' (magazine), a U.S. public affairs journal, founded in 1945 and formerly published by the American Jewish Committee * Caesar's Commentaries (disambiguation), a number of works ...

'' magazine reviewer David T. Bazelon said he did not "understand why it has become a bestseller", but all in all "Properly read, it is an occasion for some real understanding of the trial man. Haphazardly or naively read, it is interesting, instructive, and even exciting." Bazelon challenges praise by

Max Lerner Max Lerner (December 20, 1902 – June 5, 1992) was a Russian Empire-born American journalist and educator known for his controversial syndicated column. Background Maxwell Alan Lerner was born on December 20, 1902 in Minsk, in the Russian Empi ...

that the work is "one of the great legal autobiographies of our time". Kirkus reviews gave less praise, calling the book "direct and orderly" and enjoyable by "Trial lawyers, law students, and the general public". For the most part, academic and legal reviewers of the autobiography were particularly harsh critics of the book. In ''The Modern Law Review,'' British reviewer C.P. Harvey commented "I cannot help wondering what made Messrs. Heinmann think it would be good business to publish this book in he United Kingdom" He writes "I pronounce this book to be didactic, long-winded and pretentious" and describes it as an example of "the breadth of the ocean which lies between the English and American legal systems." In the ''

Osgoode Hall Law Journal The ''Osgoode Hall Law Journal'' () is a law review affiliated with Osgoode Hall Law School of York University, Toronto, Canada Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794 ...

'', reviewer R. N. Starr described the work as not exactly realistic, and taken to "poetic license". His review is rather skeptical and mixed; he writes: "For my own part I would have preferred it, had Mr. Nizer put his wide experience to other purposes." In the ''Yale Law Review'' Joseph W. Bishop lambasts the piece as demonstrating the decline of legal practice, jury tried cases, and the flaws of the legal profession. Nonetheless, he describes the book as anything but "dry and indigestable reading" which is usually the case for accounts of legal cases. Unlike other academic reviewers, ''American Bar Association Journal'' reviewer Alfred Schweppe praised the book as a "''must'' for every lawyer searching for an answer to success in the courtroom" and then describing the style as "Moving with an easy finished prose".

Legacy

The book has inspired a number of people to become lawyers, including

Laurie Levenson Laurie Lou Levenson (born December 7, 1956) is a Professor of Law, William M. Rains Fellow, the David W. Burcham Chair in Ethical Advocacy, and Director of the Center for Legal Advocacy at Loyola Law School of Loyola Marymount University in Los ...

and Roy Black. Nizer's subsequent book '' The Jury Returns'' follows much the same format and pattern as ''My Life in Court'', attempting to create a similar work and success.

Adaptations

The book was adapted into the 1963

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

play ''A Case of Libel''. The book was also adapted into a television film. Both depict the ''

'' case.

References

Further sources