A Civil Action

The legal system is ostensibly a tool for delivering justice. But the porousness and fragility of the system is inescapable after seeing the machinations that comprise a case that goes to trial. There is no such thing as perfect justice. It depends on the disposition of the plaintiff, the experience and temperament of the ruling judge, the histories and attention spans of the jurors and lawyers, and innumerable other factors. By the end of the case, there are aspects of the outcome that, even though they look like justice, have still come about haphazardly, or by accident. And regardless of the outcome, people define justice in different ways. A lawyer may feel that justice has been done after winning a case, while a grieving parent may not.

Justice is a manmade concept. Otherwise, consensus would be possible on the thorniest legal and ethical issues facing human societies. However, despite its limitations, the law is revered by those who practice it, and there is nothing in A Civil Action to suggest that there is anything better than the current legal system with regards to the pursuit of justice.