Hidden Behind the Robe: A Courthouse Thriller

Matt Graham's first novel, Hidden Behind the Robe, traverses the unexplored inner workings of the raunchy, salacious, often hilarious, happenings of the Los Angeles justice system. Graham's real-life anecdotes provide a rare Judge's view of the City of Los Angeles and the gritty world of its criminal courts, as the reader discovers that all the bad guys aren't in the lockup. You wouldn't believe a word if it didn't come straight from the Judge. Judge Charles Dunning is the reluctant manager of the Van Nuys courthouse - a building teeming with conspiring judges, oddballs, gossipers, and misfits. When Dunning receives an anonymous allegation of sexual misconduct against Judge William Davis Hyde, his investigation reveals there is more intrigue hiding behind the robe than he could have imagined. As Judge Hyde learns of Dunning's investigation, Hyde counter-punches by revealing a decades-old ruling where Dunning dismissed accusations of racism. Dunning thought he made the right call at the time...now he's not so sure. As the pressure mounts, Hyde stokes the controversy over Dunning's ruling that snowballs into a national debate that puts Judge Dunning, his career, and his family in jeopardy.