Jarrow’s engrossing biography should bring Robert H. Jackson some well-deserved attention. Ample detail about his childhood years provides insight into his later character. An excellent speaker, a law career seemed perfect, but Jackson couldn’t afford higher education. Instead, he passed the bar after a brief law course and an apprenticeship. Jackson held various government positions during Franklin Roosevelt’s presidency, culminating in an appointment to the Supreme Court. At the close of World War II, Jackson was tapped to be the chief prosecutor for the Nuremberg Trial, where his wisdom, eloquent speaking ability and legal knowledge played a key role in the successful prosecution of the first 22 defendants. Returning to the Supreme Court, he wrote several still-cited opinions. Excellent as a biography, this work also provides inside information about the Supreme Court and an interesting look at the Nuremberg Trial, an area that receives little coverage in juvenile literature. Myriad period photographs with informative captions round out this excellent offering. An outstanding addition to most collections. (timeline, source notes, bibliography, index, picture credits) (Biography. 12 & up)
