"As long as no one claims to know how to predict future behavior and therefore how to stop human beings from killing or hurting other human beings, we ought to explore every possible explanation for what people do and why they do it." In the inimitable words of the author who spent more than 20 years feeding the political machine, then another 30 years serving on the Bench of the Maryland Judiciary, Judge Steven I. Platt takes you on a journey of critical thinking, social and legal analysis, and humorous perspicacity in The Winding Road: Criminal Courts, Civil Matters, and the Ongoing Quest for Access to Justice.

Judge Platt tackles criminal justice reform on a state and national level and addresses its critics on both sides of the aisle while addressing complex subjects, such as counterterrorism and the death penalty. He discusses what access to justice really means and the explosive growth of alternative dispute resolution and its role in achieving justice.

The Winding Road is one of three compilations of Judge Platt's timeless writings published as a popular political column in The Daily Record in Baltimore and on his blog, "A Pursuit of Justice: The Intersection of Law, Economics, and Politics." Judge Platt has traveled to various countries as a consultant and observer and has witnessed, presided over, and mediated thousands of cases, many of which involved notable political figures, as well as some colorful rogues and scoundrels.

Contents include:

Chapter 1: Criminal Justice System Reform Chapter 2: Crime and Punishment in Maryland Chapter 3: A 21st Century Criminal Justice System Chapter 4: Judiciary's Role in Counterterrorism Must Be Defined Chapter 5: The Death Penalty Is Different, and It Should Be Chapter 6: Post-Conviction: When All Else Has Failed Chapter 7: Explanation for Violence at Virginia Tech Provided by Shakespeare Chapter 8: Exclusionary Rule: To Be or Not to Be? That Is No Longer the Question Chapter 9: Judges and National Security: The Supervision of Counterterrorism Chapter 10: Dubai: A City of Contrasts Chapter 11: The Hague Works for Peace, Security, and Justice Across the Globe Chapter 12: The Intersection of Advocacy and Financial Forensics: The Role of the Expert in 21st Century Dispute Resolution (A Recovering Judge's Perspective) Chapter 13: Confronting Complexity: The Role of Judges and Mediators in an Increasingly Complicated World ('Separate But Equal, Different Yet Complementary') Chapter 14: Access to Justice and the Management of Expectations Chapter 15: Lessons from the Conflict Resolution Profession to the World of Politics Chapter 16: Growth of Cannabis Plants Fertilizes Legal and ADR Business Chapter 17: Arbitration That Works: Careful Selection Is the Key Chapter 18: Which ADR Technique? Choose Carefully Chapter 19: Litigation vs. ADR: Different Strokes for Different Folks Chapter 20: The New and Improved Resolution of Disputes Chapter 21: When Is the Right Time to Negotiate? Chapter 22: ADR Is Here to Stay