David Feige’s work “Indefensible” is a day in the life story of a public defender in the Bronx. The book contains fictionalized clients set throughout a typical day of “calendar call.” It also gives their back stories, some sad, some humorous, but all exceptionally true to life. More than the Bronx, however, it is a story about almost every urban courthouse, the lack of resources, the lack of compassion, and too often, the lack of justice. I was drawn to Feige’s writing. It is readily accessible, readily understandable. Comparisons can be made to Anthony Swofford’s “Jarhead” in style & content. Like Swofford, the views may not be mainstream, but they are as true and real as any other. The prose style of the two is remarkably similar, as is the love-hate relationship between the object of their affection and the harsh brutal reality of that affection. Indeed, I have no problem attributing lines from a Swofford interview several years ago about Jarhead to Indefensible, “the most important battles occur in the head, and those were still going on for me.""Much of the book comes from anger, mistrust, and that comes out in the prose, I think." Indefensible is compelling because it marries the sad interchange between reality and idealism that is life in the realm of public defense. In unflinching prose, Feige unceasingly depicts the horror that is the American justice system, unnervingly names names, and unabashedly lays out the failure of liberal democracy in dealing with justice for the “have nots” where too often the line between justice and tyranny is blurred. By the end of the book I knew more about myself and who I am as a PD when I finished reading the book than when I started which, in addition to its hard-hitting expose on the failures of the American judicial experiment, is why I have been pumping this book. Pre-orders for the book are available at the major booksellers, or you can pre-order a personalized and signed copy. It hits retailers June 3. [I should note that Dave’s “people” were kind enough to forward a copy of their book. Although I probably have met Dave at a CLE or bar function, and, having practiced as a PD two counties away in northern New Jersey, am familiar with the Bronx Defenders & their reputation for no-holds barred litigating, I “have no dog in this fight.” I was intrigued by the idea of the book, having started & stopped a similar effort a few years ago, & was pleasantly surprised by Dave’s work. He stole my idea & made it better. In Colbertarian slang, he gets a wag of my finger for theft of my ideas & a tip of the hat for his impeccable delivery.]