Marty Garbus is not only an acclaimed trial lawyer, but also a prolific author, with six books and many articles to his credit. His books include The Next 25 Years: How the Supreme Court Will Make You forget the Meaning of Words Like Privacy, Equality and Freedom, discussing the future of the Roberts Court and grave threats to our rights, and Tough Talk: How I Fought for Writers, Comics, Bigots, and the American Way, a book that examines the First Amendment with respect to Internet-related media problems.
Mr. Garbus’ numerous articles have appeared in such prominent publications as the New York Times, Media Law & Policy, New York Law Journal, National Law Journal, and The Nation.
Books written by Martin Garbus:
NORTH OF HAVANA: The Untold Story of Dirty Politics, Secret Diplomacy, and the Trial of the Cuban Five
Available on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble
North of Havana tells the story of a spy ring sent by Cuba in the early 1990s to infiltrate anti-Communist extremists in Miami. Erroneously charged by the U.S. government in connection with the 1996 shootdown of two planes circulating anti-Castro leaflets over Havana, the spies—in the absence of evidence—were convicted in 2000 of conspiracy to commit espionage and murder.
“He movingly portrays the pain, degradation, and hardship his client experienced as well as his own frustrations with prison officials who “complicated and interfered” with his work in every way possible. His impassioned book is both an indictment of the legal system and a plea for prison reform.” – Kirkus Reviews
The Next 25 Years: How The Supreme Court Will Make You Forget the Meaning of Words Like Privacy, Equality and Freedom
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Garbus discusses the future of the U.S. Supreme Court and the grave threat to our rights, including free speech and other First Amendment issues. Published in February 2007 by Seven Stories Press.
“Garbus cuts right to the heart of what’s at stake, including rights to abortion, privacy and religion; states’ sovereignty issues; tax reform and others. With crystal-clear reasoning, Garbus sounds a wake-up call for those suspicious of the current administration’s long-term plans for the U.S. judiciary.” – Publisher’s Weekly
Courting Disaster: The Supreme Court and the Unmaking of America Law
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(Times Books, New York, 2002; Times Books softcover, 2003).
“A vigorous book, full of passion.” – The Washington Post
“An ardent defender of our freedom, Martin Garbus reminds us that the supreme Court directly affects the lives of all Americans.” – Senator Edward M. Kennedy
“Courting Disaster is like a fireball in the night.” – Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.
“A wise and courageous lawyer, with long experience in our courts, turns his lucid mind and eloquent pen to our judicial system and comes up with a ‘J’accuse’ for our time.” – Alan Dershowitz
“In this important book, Martin Garbus tells the story of a torrent of right-wing judicial activism and what it means for the average American.” – Jack M. Balkin, Yale Law School
“Mr. Garbus’s brilliant book argues that the ideological lock put on our federal court system in the past thirty years by the Republican right ring constitutes a clear and present danger to the basic legal and moral assumptions of a modern democratic republic. He lays out the evidence, all the way up to the Supreme Court, and his case is sound. This work ought to be read by every voter in the country.” – E. L. Doctorow
Tough Talk: How I Fought For Writers, Comics, Bigots, and the American Way
Available on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble
With an introduction by David Halberstam (Random House-Times Books, 1998, Times Books softcover, 1999), this is a First Amendment book that deals with media problems on the Internet including copyright, trademark, and libel, as well as prominent cases, including the defense of Lenny Bruce and Robert Redford’s case against the tobacco industry. Garbus deals with entertainment law and commercial litigation in free speech, copyright law, and intellectual property.
“Read this book!!” – Morley Safer
“This powerful book retells what our Founding Fathers understood – that freedom cannot survive by silencing dissent.” – Senator Edward Kennedy
“In Tough Talk, we see a legitimate, peerless champion carrying the banner of the First Amendment. What a joy!” – Mario Cuomo
“Martin Garbus reminds us why the First Amendment comes first in the Bill of Rights. This powerful book retells what our founding fathers understood–that freedom cannot survive by silencing dissent. A free marketplace of ideas is the indispensable condition of a thriving democracy.” – Senator Ted Kennedy
“Martin Garbus has written a kind of First Amendment was hournal, with free speech the turf, the treasure, and the prize. It’s filled with courtroom gladiators, villains, and” – Diane Sawyer, ABC News
“Tough Talk is as entertaining as a bestselling novel and as persuasive as a Supreme Court brief. It will refresh your commitment to the American system” – Nadine Strossen, President, American Civil Liberties Union
“If anyone–Journalist or otherwise–has any doubts, qualms, or second thoughts about everyone’s right to speak his mind, get them to read this book.” – Morely Safer, 60 Minutes
“Martin Garbus is a gunfighter for the Bill of Rights. He goes wherever liberty is in jeopardy. Now he has written a book that us true, that is fearless, that is uplifting. And the best news of all: Garbus writes like an angel, not like a lawyler.” – Jack Newfield, New York Post
“This is a book about war. The war is one being coontinually waged against our freedom of speech. The warrior is Martin Garbus, who gas fought brilliantly and gallantly.” – Gerry Spence, author of How to Argue and Win Every Time
“A memoir so engaging that one wishes it were longer” – Kirkus Reviews
Traitors and Heroes
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(Athenaeum, 1987; Random House softcover, 1988) Called “a forthright, impassioned, informative and chilling memoir” by the New York Times, this book describes Mr. Garbus’s legal work in the Soviet Union, Chile, and South Africa.
“A forthright, impassioned, informative and chilling memoir.” – The New York
“A superb book.” – The Los Angeles Times
“Traitors and Heroes provides searing examples of injustice done in the name of law, from South Africa to the Soviet Union. Martin Garbus experienced first hand the emotions _theFrustrations-of a lawyer in those appalling circumstances. He makes us share his feelings.” – Anthony Lewis
“A superb book.” – Los Angeles Times Book Review
“We need more advocates of free speech like Martin Garbus.” – William Safire
Ready for the Defense
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(Farrar Straus & Giroux, 1971; Avon softcover, 1972, and Carroll & Graf reprint, 1995) The New York Times described this book as “a gripping account of five of Martin Garbus’ dramatic trials with all the suspense and excitement of first-rate courtroom dramas leav[ing] few emotions untapped.” The trials range from the criminal defense of Lenny Bruce to copyright cases and murder cases. Studs Terkel said, “The way things are going, I may be the subject of prosecution. Assuming I am of sound mind, I hereby choose as attorney for my defense Martin Garbus. Garbus draws on experience as a trial lawyer in criminal defense, corporate litigation, estates and class action suits. His cases, recounted in this book, are Darrowesque.” The book was a New York Times notable book.
“Garbus, the lawyer who handled the defense of Timothy Leary and Lenny Bruce, discusses these cases and includes rundowns of others… Readers will gain respect for the law, and particularly for Garbus, whatever their view of some of the defendants!” – Library Jornal
“The cockeyed way thing are going leads me to suspect that all sane men may be subject to prosecution of one sort of another. Assuming I am of sound mind, I hereby choose as attorney for my defense, Martin Garbus. His cases, recounted in this book, are Darrowesque!” – Studs Terkel
“Garbus is of the breed of Clarence Darrow and his book is engrossing!” – Publishers’ Weekly
China Journal: China 1972-2013
Martin Garbus is presently working on two books reflecting his time spent teaching and living in China. He recounts the very personal narratives of individual Chinese people in their struggles for justice.
In addition to these books, Martin Garbus has authored a host articles that have appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and various high-profile legal publications. For example:
- “The Roberts Court’s Dramatic Rightward Shift” – New York Times – July 10, 2006
- “A Hostile Takeover,” The American Prospect, March 1, 2003
- “Private Censorship,” New York Law Journal, Dec. 1, 1997
Interviews with Martin Garbus
- 60 Minutes
- MacNeill Lehrer Report
- Good Morning America
- Good Day New York
- Tom Brokaw, Charlie Rose, Catherine Crier, Peter Jennings, Brian Wilson, Diane Saawyer, Mike Wallace, Dan Rather, Bill O’Reilly, and others
- Jon Stewart (Comedy Central)
Find out more about the books and many articles by and about Marty Garbus: