Rough Justice

Rough Justice raises profound questions about what the words guilty and innocent actually mean. Written with great style and aplomb and full of surprises, I would give this to anyone interested in the law, indeed anyone interested in their fellow humans. The criminal law has found its voice: quiet, determined, steely, and yet always humane.

JUSTIN WEBB, Today Programme presenter and author of The Gift of a Radio

You’ll hear a lot of wonderful things being said about Wendy Joseph’s Rough Justice and I have to tell you that they’re all justified. A worthy follow-up to her bestselling debut Unlawful Killings this is a book that will make you question what justice is and whether or not it actually gets dispensed by our courts.

Emeritus Professor David Wilson, author of My Life with Murderers

Beautifully written, immensely engaging, powerful and disturbing insight into a judge’s work and the choices faced.

Peter James, author of the Detective Superintendent Roy Grace series

A vivid picture of the thoughts, feelings and actions of a woman judge as she tries cases involving women as victims/perpetrators and asks herself whether we do them justice. A compelling read.

Lady Hale

A fascinating and entertaining view of our criminal justice system from the perspective of the Bench. Wendy Joseph tells stories of criminal prosecutions where women are on trial for serious offences. All the characters of the crown court come alive from judge’s clerk to problematic jury members, from overconfident counsel to the frightened defendant with Her Honour left to play umpire and make the whole system run as smoothly as possible. It is a relatively fair procedure, but can justice be served in cases where there is often a complex and hidden past?’

Harriet Wistrich, author of Sister in Law

Rough Justice is a riveting front-line account of our beleaguered courts. Part polemic, part primer, it takes gripping real-life cases and places the reader in the centre of the drama. Told with clarity and eloquence, it distils an arcane subject with the vigor and pace of a legal thriller. I found it sobering but also deeply moving and resolutely hopeful.

Kia Abdullah, author of Those People Next Door

A more cerebral version of Kavanagh QC … with sensitivity, suspense and an easy style.

Marina Wheeler, New Statesman

Joseph is a natural storyteller.. but what makes it stand out is her point of view.

Frances Gibb, The Times

It is her open-mindedness and her powerful writing style that makes this book an original mixture of education and gripping stories.

Rachel Billington, Inside Time

Joseph writes clearly and elegantly.. her tone is that of a wise, empathetic referee.

Henry Mance, Financial Times

Joseph radiates emotional intelligence and compassion

Julia Llewelyn Smith, The Times