Dignity

'Ken Goodman decided that he'd had enough . . .'Dignity, a courtroom drama about a minister put on trial for helping a cancer patient end his life, probes the emotional debate over assisted suicide with sharp dialogue, dynamic characters, and plot twists that will keep readers guessing. Diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor, Ken Goodman struggles to retain control of his body and his identity. As his condition worsens, Ken decides not to suffer further, and with support from the charismatic Jerome Walsh, he carries out what he thinks is a private act. But when the assisted suicide is inadvertently discovered, and criminal charges are brought against Reverend Walsh, Ken's death suddenly becomes very public. The county courthouse has never seen a case like this before, and judicial clerk Chris Hamilton is initially excited by the growing media attention. Fresh from law school, he considers the matter straightforward at first, but becomes increasingly uncomfortable with its complexities. With a veteran prosecutor who wonders whether his office is doing the right thing, a flashy defense attorney only too eager to go to trial, and a judge who wants nothing more than to make it all go away, the case jolts from one confrontation to another. As unexpected developments arise, and the explanations for Reverend Walsh's actions become less clear, Chris finds himself thrust into the role of conscience for the court. Striving to manage the case while making his own views heard, Chris must reconcile what he has learned in school, what he sees in court, and what he thinks is right.