Anatomy of a Murder

p. 245

A veteran judge speaks: I am endlessly fascinated by the raw drama of a murder trial, of the defendant fighting so inarticulately for his freedom—his is the drama of understatement, of the opposing counsel—those masters of overstatement, flamboyantly fighting for victory, for reputation, for more clients, for political advancement, for God knows what, of then weathervane jury swaying this way and that, of the judge himself, trying his damnedest to guess right and at the same time preserve a measure of decorum.  A murder trial is a fascinating pageant.”