CBA Record May-June 2025

Aaron returns alone. Mae is found dead. Rusty steps out of retirement to defend him, confronting a legal system fraught with complexities and biases, and the prosecution and courtroom scenes take us through the events. Turow remains a master of narrat ing the legal process as he describes the challenges of mounting a defense amid public prejudice and familial turmoil. The courtroom scenes are particularly compelling, highlighting Turow’s pro found understanding of legal strategy and human psychology. Beyond the legal drama, the novel explores themes of racial tension, the enduring impact of past mis takes, and the moral ambiguities that can be inherent in the pursuit of justice.​ While the novel’s length at more than 500 pages and detailed exposition may demand patience from some read ers, those invested in character-driven legal thrillers will find Presumed Guilty both thought-provoking and rewarding. Turow’s ability to intertwine complex legal proceedings with rich character development reaffirms his position as a master of the genre.​ Presumed Guilty is a gripping, thought ful legal thriller that should resonate with lawyers and those familiar with the high stakes world of criminal defense. Scott Turow’s latest reminds readers that in the justice system, the line between guilt and innocence is often blurred, and the real story is rarely as simple as the headlines suggest. For those who have read prior Turow reviews in the CBA Record, you will know that I am presumed guilty in highly praising Turow and his work. We look forward to more work of fiction from Turow in the years to come.

SUMMARY JUDGMENTS

REVIEWS, REVIEWS, REVIEWS!

PRESUMED GUILTY

By Scott Turow Grand Central Publishing Reviewed by Daniel A. Cotter

L ocal author Scott Turow seems to publish a new book almost every year. His bibliography checks in at 13 novels; his most recent, Presumed Guility, came out in January. It features Rusty Sabich, whom Turow fans first met in 1987, in the first of the trio in this series, Presumed Innocent . (That book really established the legal or courtroom genre thriller.) Sabich next appeared in Innocent in 2010. In the latest novel, Sabich agrees to defend his romantic partner’s adopted son

Aaron Housley, who is accused of killing his girlfriend. Rusty is now 76 and retired, living in the upper Midwest. (The book does not take place in the fictional Kindle County, where the first two books and many of Turow’s novels take place, and where Rusty practiced as an attorney and then judge.) Aaron Housley is a Black man who once served four months in prison, taking the hit for drugs purchased by Mae Potter, his on-again, off-again, girlfriend. The two go off to discuss their future, and

Daniel A. Cotter is a member of Dickinson Wright, the 2024-25 President of the National Counsel of Bar Presidents, and a CBA Record Editorial Board member.

THE RISKS AND REALITIES OF DEEPFAKES June 5, 2025 | 2:00 p.m. | Live Webcast 2 IL MCLE Credit | See fees and registration at Learn.ChicagoBar.org

Join the CBA Cyber Law and Data Privacy and Insurance Law Committees for a joint seminar that will explore the rapidly emerging threat of deepfakes. Deepfake technology has evolved at an alarming pace, with deepfake fraud and misuse increasing exponentially worldwide, posing new and significant risks for lawyers, clients, and carriers alike.

48 May/June 2025