Tales from Kentucky Lawyers

By William Lynwood Montell

Book Overview

"A woman was sitting on the witness stand, and the lawyer asked her, 'Did you, or did you not, on the night of June 23rd have sex with a hippie on the back of a motorcycle in a peach orchard?' She thought for a few minutes, then said, 'What was that date again?'"--from the book

Lawyers have long been known as master storytellers, and those from Kentucky are certainly no exception. Veteran oral historian and folklorist Lynwood Montell has collected tales from dozens of lawyers and judges from throughout the Bluegrass State, ranging from the story about the tough Jackson County judge who fined himself for being late to court to unwelcome dogs in the courtroom. Recorded just as they have been told for generations, these stories are sometimes funny, sometimes sad or frightening, sometimes raw and harrowing, but always remarkable.

Far more than collection of lawyer jokes, Tales from Kentucky Lawyers recounts the most insightful, entertaining, and occasionally heartbreaking stories ever told by and about Kentucky lawyers and their clients, covering the spectrum from arson to homicide, domestic disagreements to sexual abuse, and everything in between. Tales from Kentucky Lawyers is a valuable resource for folklorists as well as an entertaining and vivid account of the often-surprising legal world.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0813122945
• ISBN13: 9780813122946
• Release Date: November 2003
• Publisher: University Press of Kentucky
• Length: 264 Pages
• Weight: 1.24 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.2" x 9.5"
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

A very narrow audience

A very readable book but my concern is that it has a very narrow audience -- attorneys who practice in rural or southern states. In any case, lots of great stories and a good look back at how things used to be. If you like this sort of thing, then this is the sort of thing you will like!