In “Firmly Convinced: A Revealing Look at the Criminal Justice System Through the Eyes of a Career Prosecutor” from Mission Point Press, retired chief assistant prosecutor Chet Wiech gives first-hand accounts of intriguing cases and presents key details of prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, and most importantly, the individuals on trial as the scales of justice teeter until verdicts are reached.
“The book reveals a side of the criminal justice system readers seldom get to see. The vignettes describe the human element and how it impacts a just result,” Wiech said.
Wiech wasn’t driven to write “Firmly Convinced” to tell a familiar tale of transitioning from an idealistic to a jaded prosecutor or to expose injustice or corruption, but rather to look beyond often salacious stories.
“What I hope the reader gains from this book is a better understanding of the complexity of the criminal justice system attributed to its many participants, all of whom happen to be human. I also hope to help the reader comprehend the weight placed upon those dedicated to preserving the rule of law, which, simply stated, means that we are a country of laws, not men,” he said.
While many in the legal profession come to it via family legacy or political aspirations, Wiech’s career path was much more pragmatic.
“I was never one of those people whose entire life’s purpose was to become a lawyer,” he said.
After high school he tried a factory job like those his grandfathers, uncles, and dad held but found the work extremely hard and dangerous.
He then spent four years in the U.S. Navy, and from the deck of a destroyer decided a college education, courtesy of the GI Bill, appeared to be a very good idea.
“Attending law school was essentially my fallback option,” he recalled.
Wiech peppers personal insights throughout “Firmly Convinced”: Riding an elevator, alone, with a buff individual recently released from prison after serving 17 years for a Wiech-prosecuted case.
A colorful judge fond of asking lawyers to approach his bench, then quietly sharing irreverent observations. His retirement party attended by police officers, judges, lawyers, friends, family, and his “lunch wenches”—a night so festive that the ample number of beer kegs on hand were drained in two hours.
“The book reveals a side of the criminal justice system readers seldom get to see. The vignettes describe the human element and how it impacts a just result,” Wiech said.
Wiech wasn’t driven to write “Firmly Convinced” to tell a familiar tale of transitioning from an idealistic to a jaded prosecutor or to expose injustice or corruption, but rather to look beyond often salacious stories.
“What I hope the reader gains from this book is a better understanding of the complexity of the criminal justice system attributed to its many participants, all of whom happen to be human. I also hope to help the reader comprehend the weight placed upon those dedicated to preserving the rule of law, which, simply stated, means that we are a country of laws, not men,” he said.
While many in the legal profession come to it via family legacy or political aspirations, Wiech’s career path was much more pragmatic.
“I was never one of those people whose entire life’s purpose was to become a lawyer,” he said.
After high school he tried a factory job like those his grandfathers, uncles, and dad held but found the work extremely hard and dangerous.
He then spent four years in the U.S. Navy, and from the deck of a destroyer decided a college education, courtesy of the GI Bill, appeared to be a very good idea.
“Attending law school was essentially my fallback option,” he recalled.
Wiech peppers personal insights throughout “Firmly Convinced”: Riding an elevator, alone, with a buff individual recently released from prison after serving 17 years for a Wiech-prosecuted case.
A colorful judge fond of asking lawyers to approach his bench, then quietly sharing irreverent observations. His retirement party attended by police officers, judges, lawyers, friends, family, and his “lunch wenches”—a night so festive that the ample number of beer kegs on hand were drained in two hours.
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