Dan Lawton

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I’ m a writer and lawyer. My short fiction and columns have appeared in The Recorder, Los Angeles Daily Journal, The Pensive Quill, The Daily Transcript, and Sheepshead Review. “ Above The Ground: The Kevin Barry Artt Story,” is my first work of narrative nonfiction. Here are a few endorsements: “ A startling, memorable forensic account of British rule in Ireland.” Seamus Deane (Irish historian; editor, The Field Day Anthology of Irish Writing; author, Reading in The Dark) “ Dan Lawton’ s book tells the whole story. And what a story — filled with riveting detail that reminds us that every single one of our lives can make a difference, and change happens in our fragile, broken world because that single person is willing to say, I am who I am.” Alan Abrahamson (Best-selling author (No Limits: The Will to Succeed, with Michael Phelps, and Zero Regrets: Be Greater than Yesterday, with Apolo Ohno) “ It sounds like the fictional plot of a blockbuster thriller. . . . Yes, it’ s the story of one man’ s life, Kevin Barry Artt. But with his lawyer’ s eye and passion to expose injustice, Lawton makes this a timeless and borderless tale . . . [A]n essential piece of reading for anyone who hopes to understand not only the Irish conflict, but how the rule of law can be subverted in any divided society.” Michael Beattie (former Head of News and Current Affairs at Ulster Television, producer of television documentaries ‘ Unlocking the Maze’ (UTV 1983) and ‘ Breakout’ (BBC 2008) “ A gripping tale of survival and redemption which combines elements of true crime, courtroom drama, and a daring prison escape. . . . ‘ Above The Ground’ answers urgent and timeless questions: What price do nations pay when they abandon the rule of law in order to crush terrorism? Why do innocents falsely confess to crimes they don’ t commit? Despite the best efforts of police and paramilitaries to ruin his life, how does a victim of those efforts not become embittered? . . . [O]ne of the best books ever written by an American about Northern Ireland and a must read for those interested in promoting peace.” Nancy Soderberg (Former deputy assistant to the President for national security affairs (1993-1997); author, The Superpower Myth: The Use and Misuse of American Might) “ This is an extraordinary book that works on multiple levels. It is first of all a vivid narrative of a victim caught up in forces beyond his control, meticulously researched and compellingly told. Beyond that, this account conveys the torments of the time of Troubles in Northern Ireland in almost visceral reality. . . .[I]if one were to read just one book on this traumatic passage in Irish history, this would be the recommended choice.” Alan Dowty (Author and historian) “ The story is as old as time - injustice, oppression and the fight -- in this case the flight -- for freedom. But there is a contemporary feel to this Troubles tragedy. What is terrorism? How does a government fight it? What are the limits? Who are the victims? With Dan Lawton’ s steady hand this timeless story unfolds and enfolds with gripping prose deepened by painstaking detail and a panoramic view.” Major Garrett (Chief Washington Correspondent, CBS News; author, Mr. Trump’ s Wild Ride) Here are citations to some of my published work: “ A Lion in Winter: Senior Circuit Judge J. Clifford Wallace at 92” (California Litigation, vol. 34, no. 3, January 2022); “ The Essential Scalia: On the Constitution, the Courts, and the Rule of Law, edited by Jeffrey S. Sutton and Edward Whelan” (California Litigation, vol. 34, no. 1, April 8, 2021); “ Annexation, Legally Speaking (Los Angeles Daily Journal, August 20, 2019); “ The Most Newsworthy Part of a Person’ s Entire Life” (Los Angeles Daily Journal, May 29, 2019); “ Freshly Cut Grass and Protective Netting” (Los Angeles Daily Journal, April 3, 2018); “ Open NCAA Basketball Tournament to all Teams” (Los Angeles Daily Journal, March 16, 2018); “ Whi