The Appeal

2008 novel by John Grisham

978-0-385-51504-7

The Appeal is a 2008 novel by John Grisham, his 21st book and his first fictional legal thriller since The Broker in 2005.^[1] The novel explores the interplay of corporate power, politics, and judicial ethics in the U.S. legal system, focusing on the influence of money in judicial elections.^[2]

Plot summary

Set in Mississippi, the novel follows attorneys Wes and Mary Grace Payton as they seek justice for Jeannette Baker, whose family members died due to water contamination caused by Krane Chemical, a company owned by billionaire Carl Trudeau. After a jury awards $41 million in damages, Trudeau manipulates the judicial election system to secure a favorable ruling on appeal, funding the campaign of judicial candidate Ron Fisk to unseat a justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court.

Fisk, who is politically inexperienced, is drawn into a campaign orchestrated by a secretive firm specializing in judicial elections. Despite initial resistance, Fisk ultimately sides with corporate interests, helping overturn the Paytons' victory.^[3]

The novel also explores the personal toll on Fisk, particularly when his son is critically injured, forcing him to confront the consequences of corporate negligence in his own life.^[4] The story is a cautionary tale about the danger of mixing politics and the judiciary.

Themes

The Appeal deals with themes of corruption, the influence of money in politics, and the vulnerability of the judicial system. It critiques the practice of electing judges, especially when major financial contributors have cases pending before the court. Grisham’s narrative highlights the ethical dilemmas faced by judges who rely on campaign funding from corporate interests.^[5]

Background

Grisham was inspired by real-life legal battles and judicial elections in the U.S., particularly the Caperton v. Massey case involving Don Blankenship and A.T. Massey Coal. In that case, Blankenship spent millions to help elect a West Virginia judge who later voted to overturn a verdict against Massey.^[6]

The novel also references judicial scandals in Mississippi, where judges have faced allegations of accepting campaign donations in exchange for favorable rulings.^[7] Grisham himself has spoken out against the dangers of judicial elections, pointing to the inherent conflicts of interest they can create.^[8]

Critical reception

The Appeal received mixed to positive reviews. Critics praised Grisham’s portrayal of the judicial system and its ethical conflicts. Still, they noted that the novel’s plot is more political commentary than a traditional legal thriller.^[9] Some reviewers pointed out the thinly veiled parallels to real-world cases and lauded Grisham for addressing timely issues of corporate influence in politics.^[10]

Adaptations

Though there has been no official film adaptation of The Appeal, Grisham's novels often draw interest from filmmakers due to their cinematic quality and timely subject matter.^[11]

References

^ "Book Review - The Appeal". BookPage. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
^ "The Appeal - Penguin Random House". Penguin Random House. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
^ "The Appeal Review". BookBrowse.
^ "Judicial Ethics in Fiction". The Yale Law Review. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
^ "Judicial Elections and Corporate Influence: Grisham's Critique in The Appeal". American Political Science Review. 102 (4): 1012–1014. 2008. doi:10.1017/japsr.2008.78.
^ Biskupic, Joan (February 16, 2009). "Supreme Court case with the feel of a best seller". USA Today.
^ "Grisham and the Mississippi Judicial System". Southern Law Review. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
^ "Hot Coffee - Judicial Elections and Corporate Power". HBO.
^ "The Appeal Review - The Washington Post". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
^ "The Appeal: Corporate Influence in Fiction". Law and Literature. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
^ "John Grisham's Unfilmed Works". The Guardian. May 24, 2018.