Forensic psychiatrist Emanuel Tanay has testified in thousands of court cases as an expert witness, including in such notorious cases as those of Jack Ruby, Sam Sheppard, and Theodore “Ted” Bundy. Tanay walks the reader through his experiences in the courtroom, explaining the role of the forensic psychiatrist in the litigation process and providing a “behind-the-scenes” view of our criminal justice system, including individual chapters on some of his most interesting and infamous cases. Tanay details the rampant injustice that he has witnessed and argues that the potential for injustice is built into our legal system in the form of incompetent lawyers, the imbalance of resources between defendants and plaintiffs in civil trials, and the political concerns of elected judges and prosecutors.

Whether or not you always agree with his perspective, you can admire Dr. EmanuelTanay’s work. He continues a tradition which stretches as far back as from Socrates and the Biblical prophets to Emile Zola and Thurgood Marshall. Dr. Tanay’s voice of painful yet reflected-upon experience decries injustice in the midst of the pursuit of justice.”

—Harold J. Bursztajn, Program in Psychiatry and the Law at BIDMC Psychiatry of Harvard Medical School

“Dr. Emanuel Tanay is a well-known forensic psychiatrist who, having become an internationally known expert on homicide, has been called upon to testify in many high-profile cases, such as those involving Jack Ruby, Ted Bundy, Sam Sheppard, and Robert Garwood. In this book he sets out an illuminating discussion of the injustice of the American legal system. impressions never to be forgotten. It is a must read.”

—Ralph Slovenko, Wayne State University Law School

Emanuel Tanay, MD, is clinical professor of psychiatry at Wayne State University and a distinguished fellow of both the American Psychiatric Association and the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. He has provided forensic psychiatric expert testimony for more than 50 years.