THE VELVET HAMMER

A retired circuit court judge who presided over the 2011 murder trial of Casey Anthony defends capital punishment in this treatise and memoir.

“There are certain evil people in this world who cannot be redeemed, and the death penalty is the proper punishment under Florida law,” the book states early on. Later, Perry, who’s now retired, goes further, directly invoking religion to justify his arguments: “Scripture makes it clear,” he concludes, “that the government has the authority to determine when death as a punishment is warranted.” Overall, Perry and co-author Mitchell offer a book that’s an unusual mix of fiery polemic, nostalgic memoir, and gruesome true-crime drama. The last is recounted in grimly granular forensic detail, and some readers may find the terrifying images hard to forget. Perry also tells of growing up in and around Orlando, Florida, where he would sometimes have to choose a switch with which his aunt could administer corporal punishment. A teacher administered similar “licks” with an automobile fan belt, he notes, and his own father—one of the first Black Orlando police officers—used a belt to inflict punishment. Rather than condemn these actions, the author lauds their effectiveness: “That kind of discipline stopped me from doing 60 percent of the things I knew were wrong.” Perry is steadfast in his perspective, and he addresses important issues revolving around victims’ rights; he looks at several cases, including one involving a woman who was brutally murdered by her estranged husband, and effectively discusses how the system can fail to protect victims. In 1998, when he was a Florida prosecutor,Perry witnessed the execution of convicted murderer Judy Buenoano in the electric chair, which he asserts was justified; many readers, and especially those against the death penalty, will find the description of the execution upsetting, but Perry argues otherwise: “It surprised me how smoothly the execution went and how quickly it was over,” the author recalls. “The entire event was antiseptic and routine.”

This effort to justify the death penalty features shocking moments that may not win over those with opposing views.