{"product_id":"9780809333691","title":"Prairie Justice: A History of Illinois Courts under French, English, and American Law","description":"\u003cp\u003eA concise legal history of Illinois through the end of the nineteenth century, \u003ci\u003ePrairie Justice\u003c\/i\u003e covers the region’s progression from French to British to early American legal systems, which culminated in a unique body of Illinois law that has influenced other jurisdictions. Written by Roger L. Severns in the 1950s and published in serial form in the 1960s, \u003ci\u003ePrairie Justice\u003c\/i\u003e is available now for the first time as a book, thanks to the work of editor John A. Lupton, an Illinois and legal historian who also contributed an introduction.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIllinois’ legal development demonstrates the tension between two completely different European legal systems, between river communities and prairie towns, and between agrarian and urban interests. Severns uses several rulings—including a reconstitution of the Supreme Court in 1824, slavery-related cases, and the impeachment of a Supreme Court justice—to examine political movements in Illinois and their impact on the local judiciary. Through legal decisions, the Illinois judiciary became an independent, co-equal branch of state government. By the mid-nineteenth century, Illinois had established itself as a leading judicial authority, influencing not only the growing western frontier but also the industrialized and farming regions of the country. With a close eye for detail, Severns reviews the status of the legal profession during the 1850s by looking new members of the Court, the nostalgia of circuit riding, and how a young lawyer named Abraham Lincoln rose to prominence.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIllinois has a rich judicial history, but that history has not been adequately documented until now. With the publication of \u003ci\u003ePrairie Justice\u003c\/i\u003e, those interested in Illinois legal history finally have a book that covers the development of the state’s judiciary in its formative years.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Southern Illinois University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47011598663920,"sku":"9780809333691","price":34.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9780809333691_p0.jpg?v=1763728431","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9780809333691","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}