"...a deeply personal and insightful piece of history that sheds light on a transformative period in Rockland County." - Rockland County Times
"A rollicking, poignant, and perceptive excursion into the life and times of Robert Meehan, the Rockland County, New York, DA, in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Discovered by his daughter more than fifteen years after his death, Confessions of a Hayseed DA provides unforgettable insights into the political campaigns, the dramatic courtroom triumphs and missteps and the family life of a prosecutor who always pursued justice." - William K. Marimow, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist (1978 for Public Service and 1985 for Investigative Journalism), former Editor of the Baltimore Sun and the Philadelphia Inquirer, and former Vice President for News at NPR
"I wish I could have met Robert Meehan. As a District Attorney, I love a good legal fight and I think we would have had a lot in common. DA Meehan fought fervently for the rights of both victims and the accused. And he refused to allow those rights to be subordinated to the political and social winds of the time. Although it was written more than forty years ago, this book is extraordinarily timely. The overarching message-that prosecutors have the obligation to represent all of their constituents with tireless fervor and conviction, regardless of win-loss records or popularity contests-should be shared with all those who aspire to represent the People in a court of law. I was particularly moved by DA Meehan's successful efforts to change the laws of New York State in regard to the rights of rape victims. This is a passion that we share. It was a privilege to read this book." - Summer Stephan, District Attorney, San Diego, California
"Confessions of a Hayseed DA is a captivating portrayal of the sorrow, tragedy, joy, goodness, sadness, and even humor of those who must answer for themselves before the law. The confessional of Robert Meehan is a testament to a man's steadfast principle of fairness in adjudicating the law with too rare compassion and understanding." - Joe Sestak, former US Congressman (PA-07) and Vice Admiral, US Navy
"To read Confessions of a Hayseed DA is to be reminded of what the law is really all about: It's about people. Robert Meehan was district attorney of Rockland County, New York for nine years ending in 1974. His posthumous memoir-it was discovered and edited by one of his daughters after his death-is part Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, part It's a Wonderful Life, and all rich with real life. Unlike the hard-boiled crime movies he grew up loving, Meehan's time as DA is filled with the kind of tight community connections that remind us that both victims and criminals have families, friends, and histories. Meehan's integrity leaps off the page. He may not have always been the most popular man in Rockland County, but it's easy to see why he was respected." - Amanda Bennett, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and investigative journalist, former Director of Voice of America, former Executive Editor of Bloomberg News, and former Editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer and Lexington Herald-Leader
"Robert R. Meehan has published posthumously an unexpected gem in Confessions of a Hayseed DA, thanks to the perseverance of his daughter, who discovered the long-forgotten manuscript. Meehan takes readers behind closed doors of the Rockland County District Attorney's Office and delivers a narrative that is by turns a page-turning expos© of a fugitive homicide case, a frank examination of the politics of the criminal justice system, and a love letter to his loyal staff and supportive wife. The prose is lively, self-deprecating, and shot through with authenticity and a sly humor." - Paul Grondahl, author of Mayor Corning: Albany Icon, Albany Enigma, journalist, and director of the New York State Writers Instit
