Books, Crooks and Counselors
Copyright © 2011 by Leslie Ann Budewitz. All rights reserved.

Published by Quill Driver Books
an imprint of Linden Publishing
2006 South Mary, Fresno, California 93721
559-233-6633 / 800-345-4447
QuillDriverBooks.com

Quill Driver Books and Colophon are trademarks of Linden Publishing, Inc.

ISBN 978-1-610350-19-8
135798642

Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper.

The information in this book is presented for educational purposes only, and is not intended as legal advice.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Budewitz, Leslie.

Budewitz, Leslie.

Books, crooks and counselors : how to write accurately about criminal law and courtroom procedure / Leslie Budewitz.

p. cm.

Summary: “Addressing the misunderstood and misrepresented aspects of the law in today’s writing, this reliable guidebook demonstrates how to use legal concepts, terminology, and procedure to create fiction that is true to life and crackling with real-world tension. Examples from actual cases are provided along with excerpts of authentic courtroom dialogue. Topics covered include criminal and civil law; differences between federal, state, and Native American jurisdiction; police and private investigation; wills and inheritances; and the written and unwritten codes that govern the public and private conduct of lawyers and judges. Providing a quick and simple legal reference, this handbook is the key to creating innovative plots, strong conflicts, authentic characters, and gritty realism”– Provided by publisher.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-61035-019-8 (pbk.)

1. Criminal law–United States. 2. Procedure (Law)–United States. 3. Legal stories–Authorship. 4. Crime writing. 5. Law and literature. 6. Procedure (Law)–United States. 7. Authors–Handbooks, manuals, etc. I. Title.

KF9219.85B83 2011

808’.06634–dc23

2011026983