Both, Shaw and Graham wanted to publish the Pelican Brief but first they needed to affirm the information of the brief with another source. And this source could be Garcia so they began a search all over Washington with only a photo of him and a few details of his private life. Finally after quite a lot of time they found Garcia’s widow. He were killed few weeks ago in strange circumstances. Luckily he left in a safe box an affidavit and a video which confirmed the information of the brief.
While the Washington Post published the story, starting the biggest crisis in the United States since Watergate, Shaw and Graham flew to the Virgin Islands.
2º Description of the main character of the book: Darby Shaw.
Darby Shaw is a smart law student at Tulane University in New Orleans. She has ginger hair, a pretty face, a charm body and, also, she dress in a cool way which serves to enhance her beauty. She is more less like Julia Roberts, who performed Shaw’ character in the film version of the novel. It is said that John Grisham got inspired from her for describing the character of Darby Shaw.
She is also very intelligent, courageous and cold, and what is very important she is the only one who knows what it is behind the deaths of the two Supreme Court’s judges.
3º Knowledge about the United States’ Legal System.
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court of the country. It is constituted by nine judge which are appointed by the United States’ President with the approve of the Senate. The Supreme Court’ judges can’t be removed, his mandate is for live and it only could end with the withdraw of the judge or with his death.
The litigation steps in the USA.
The first judgement take places at the trial level. The verdict given in this level ca be appealed to the Circuit Court of Appeals (there are many Circuits Courts of Appeals so each one is named with a number, for example the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals which is the one that appears in the novel (chapter thirty). The Circuit Court can reject the appeal or pass it. In that last case the trial will take place again before a three-judge panel who will decide. The part who loses can request a rehearing by the full panel, and if the request is passed the full panel can do any of this things: to affirm the verdict, to reverse it or to order repeat the trial. (There is also a forth option: to affirm only a part of the verdict and reverse the rest).
Any of this three decisions can be appealed to the Supreme Court by either of the parts. If the Supreme Court takes the case (something that only does with the important ones) it will give the final verdict ending the proceeding.
4º Legal Vocabulary.
Amendment: the alteration of a writ, pleading, indictment, or other document, either to correct some error or defect in the original or to raise a new claim or allegation.
“The Second Amendment grants the people the right to keep and bear arms.” Chapter two. P 18
Rehearing: A second hearing of a case already adjudicated. All the evidence is heard again and either side may introduce fresh evidence without leave.
“The losing party will undoubtedly request a rehearing by the full panel, and this will take another three or four months.” Chapter thirty. P 255
Bankruptcy: The estate of a person who had been adjudged by a court to be insolvent. “Yeah, I worked in the bankruptcy section on the eight floor, and oil and gas covers half of eight and all of nine.” Chapter thirty-six. P 332 > 333.
Lawsuit: court case brought by one person or group against another.
“Tell Jackson Feldman the lawsuit will be filed at nine in the morning, just as soon as the courthouse opens.” Chapter forty-two. P 392.
Affidavit: A sworn written statement used mainly for supporting applications and as evidence in court proceedings. The person who makes it must swear that the contents are true before a person authorised to take oaths.
“It was a four-page affidavit, typed real neat and sworn to under oath before a notary public”. Chapter Forty. P. 367.
