Professor James R. Eisenberg’s new book, “Law, Psychology, and Death Penalty Litigation,” provides a thorough introduction to the role that forensic psychology plays in capital trials. Using a step-by-step approach that covers the historical and current legal context of capital punishment, Eisenberg describes the various tasks that might confront the forensic psychologist in a death penalty trial, including issues of competency to be executed, mental retardation, risk assessment, and related ethical dilemmas. Eisenberg, an award-winning Professor of Psychology and Director of the Criminal Justice Program at Lake Erie College in Ohio, has worked on over 200 death penalty cases and thousands of other criminal and civic forensic proceedings. He is a member of the American Bar Association’s Task Force on Mental Illness and the Death Penalty. (Professional Resource Press, 2004) See Resources.
- Death Penalty Information Center (2025, March 14). NEW RESOURCE: Law, Psychology, and Death Penalty Litigation. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/new-resource-law-psychology-and-death-penalty-litigation
- Death Penalty Information Center. “NEW RESOURCE: Law, Psychology, and Death Penalty Litigation.” Last modified March 14, 2025. Accessed October 4, 2026. https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/new-resource-law-psychology-and-death-penalty-litigation.
- Death Penalty Information Center. “NEW RESOURCE: Law, Psychology, and Death Penalty Litigation.” Death Penalty Information Center, 14 Mar. 2025, https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/new-resource-law-psychology-and-death-penalty-litigation. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.