Law Man

August 1, 2012
With the assistance of Burke (co-author: The Translator: A Tribesman's Memoir of Darfur, 2008), Hopwood delivers an unusual tale of punishment and redemption. The author is frank and regretful about his youthful decision to rob five banks in the vast area around his small Nebraska hometown. When his crime spree unraveled, he wisely took a plea offer, resulting in a 12-year federal prison sentence. Without diminishing his own culpability, Hopwood writes affectingly of the prison experience: "It is beyond strange to be in such a place and feel your life freezing over, like a sci-fi story where you lie down in your rocket, not to return until everyone you know is old." Although he was nervous about the intricate social behaviors required to survive in prison, he was luckily transferred from the kitchen to the prison legal library, where he discovered an aptitude for decoding court decisions. He also realized that helping his fellow prisoners with their appeals gave him a sense of moral balance. Improbably, one such filing, concerning a dubiously obtained confession, went all the way to the Supreme Court, and Hopwood worked with high-powered attorney Seth Waxman to prepare the ultimately successful argument. He also found time to strike up a long-distance romance with a beautiful but troubled girl from home. The author's success helped him stay straight after his release, when he found employment at a printer of Supreme Court briefs. The prose is clear and thoughtful, vividly illustrating the grim absurdity of life in prison, and most readers will root for Hopwood's attempts to follow a different path. However, some readers will tire of the author's proselytizing tone with respect to his rediscovered Christian faith. Will appeal to fans of legal thrillers and stories of redemption.

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Starred review from September 1, 2012

Growing up in a small town in Nebraska, Hopwood was the epitome of a small-town hero. As a basketball star, he was the center of attention and seemed to have a bright future. But after a stint in the Navy, he came home to find himself short of cash. He and a close friend decided to steal a car, get rifles, and rob a local bank. Having succeeded the first time without any consequences, Hopwood committed four more armed robberies before being caught, convicted, and sent to prison for ten years. His prison experience was a wake-up call to the realities of life for those less fortunate than he. While writing an appeal for a fellow inmate, Hopwood became interested in becoming a paralegal. After researching the inmate's case, he submitted the appeal through the court system. With the help of a lawyer, the case ultimately made it to the U.S. Supreme Court. Life after prison proved to be a greater challenge. VERDICT Hopwood's prison memoir and long journey back into society are told with brutal and riveting honesty. For those readers interested in the sociology of crime and its effect on the prison population, this title is essential.--Claire Franek, Muhlenberg Cty. P.L., Greenville, KY

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