The verdicts have made headlines, but little is known about the inner workings of the court in which they were delivered. In Fifty Years of Justice, James Denham presents the fascinating history of the U.S. Middle District Court of Florida from its founding in 1962 to the present. Readers will discover the intricacies of rulings, the criminal defendants and civil litigants, and the dedicated officials-the unsung heroes-who keep the justice system running day to day. From desegregation to discrimination, espionage to the environment, trafficking to terrorism, and a host of cases in between, litigation in these courtrooms has shaped and shaken both state and nation.

James M. Denham is professor of history at Florida Southern College and the director of the Lawton M. Chiles Center for Florida History. He is the author of several books, including "A Rogue's Paradise": Crime and Punishment in Antebellum Florida, 1821-1861.