Frank and Fearless
After many years of work, Nicholas Cowdery AO QC and I have published ‘Frank and Fearless’.
When I walked through the office door each day, I knew that almost every decision I made would make somebody unhappy. If I decided to prosecute someone, he or she would be unhappy. If I decided not to prosecute, a victim or a police officer or both would be unhappy. If I decided to appeal against an inadequate sentence, the prisoner would be unhappy; if I declined to appeal, the law-and-order brigade would erupt.
For sixteen-and-a-half years, Nicholas Cowdery was Director of Public Prosecutions for New South Wales. During this time, he immersed himself in the worst and saddest of human behaviour as he examined cases in forensic detail. And when he made unpopular decisions he had to reckon with criticism from politicians, media, victims, perpetrators and their families.
In Frank & Fearless, Cowdery reflects on some of the most notorious and difficult cases of his distinguished career, including the headline – grabbing criminal trials of Gordon Wood, Keli Lane and Jeffrey Gilham. He also writes about lesser-known cases involving drugs and voluntary assisted dying, and the need for law reform. All the while, he fights for a fair trial for all concerned. This gripping book reveals the workings of our criminal justice system from the inside.
‘From inside the machine — a powerful memoir of justice pursued in the face of fallible judges, law ’n’ order politicians and the tabloid press.’
— David Marr
‘Frank & Fearless is not only the ultimate insider’s account of some of the state’s most sensational murder trials, it is also an account of one man’s valiant battle against political and media forces to ensure that justice was done. Society owes Nick Cowdery a debt of gratitude.’
— Kate McClymont
‘Nicholas Cowdery’s candid and measured account of his more than 16 years as NSW Director of Public Prosecutions (basically deciding if the cases that come before him should go to court) is sobering, but a testament to his resilience in an extremely testing job … What comes through amounts to a portrait of admirably calm, considered deliberation at work.’
— Steven Caroll, author and 2008 Miles Franklin Award winner, The Sydney Morning Herald
(quote from Greg Wood QC’s review) – “…to adapt a famous observation made by Justice Murphy in the 1982 High Court decision Neal v The Queen, ‘Mr [Cowdery] is entitled to be an agitator’.”
PLEASE NOTE – I am the co-author of this book, not an editor. This book was created by me writing descriptions of cases and events chosen by Nick, and weaving Nick’s observations throughout.
(quote from Stephen Keim SC’s review) – “In one sense, Frank and Fearless is a must read book because its principal author has made a great contribution to public life in Australia and his perspectives are very valuable. But, between them, Cowdery and Chin have produced a fascinating narrative in which important lessons are woven without diminishing for a moment, indeed, enhancing the entertainment value of the work.”
Our publisher, NewSouth, has published this article on how Nick and I wrote this book together.