The Nonsense Factory:

Gibney (A Generation of Sociopaths) boldly declares that these chaotic times have been long-developing in the legal realm. As that system has grown vast and complex, unaccountable public officials and political inertia have proliferated and subverted America's founding principles, says Gibney. Focusing on the federal system, the author begins with discussing how laws function and their limits. Using legal analysis, statistics, and prior research, chapters cover the major actors and institutions that comprise America's legal system including a scorching critique of law schools. Reasons for a dysfunctional Congress are also explored. Criticisms of the judiciary include its "robotic" dependence on guidelines and threats to its integrity from arbitration laws. Prosecutorial concerns such as excessive plea-bargaining are noted, along with the abuses of an increasingly paramilitary police establishment. A timely investigation of the "Imperial Presidency" considers the history and dangers of executive power. Ultimately, Gibney calls for structural reform and corrective actions. Broader in scope, this could supplement Preet Bharara's Doing Justice.