“Dissecting Anatomy of a Murder” is the focus of the Aug. 10 U.P. Notable Book event. The Upper Peninsula Publishers and Authors Association, partnering with the Crystal Falls Community District Library, sponsors Zoom events featuring books on U.P. Notable Book List. (Photo courtesy of the UPPAA)

By CHRISTIE MASTRIC

Journal Staff Writer

MARQUETTE — The famous novel “Anatomy of a Murder” always seems to attract a lot of attention when it’s the focus of a event, even though the book was written many decades ago.

The book — indirectly — will be the focus of the Upper Peninsula Publishers and Authors Association’s 29th U.P. Notable Book event on Aug. 10 when discussion will center on “Dissecting Anatomy of a Murder” by former Army Judge Advocate Eugene R. Milhizer.

The Crystal Falls Community District Library, in partnership with the UPPAA, has scheduled author events with winners of the U.P. Notable Book List. The next event will begin at 7 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on the Zoom platform. Participants are asked to contact Evelyn Gathu in advance at egathu@crystalfallslibrary.org 9060-875-3344. The UPPAA recommends they borrow a copy of the book from local library or purchase it from a local bookseller in advance to get the most out of the event.

The upcoming event will feature Milhizer and his in-depth analysis of fact and fiction behind both the novel and movie “Anatomy of a Murder. “ As a distinguished professor of law, Milhizer has unique insights to provide to the literary, legal and cinematic dimensions of the story, the UPPAA said in a news release.

The movie was filmed on location in Ishpeming, Big Bay and Marquette.

Milhizer captures rare recollections of this time in history in his book from Ave Maria Law Press, the UPPAA said.

Milhizer is quoted as saying, “I saw the film ‘Anatomy of a Murder’ while in high school, and soon thereafter read the novel on which it was based. ‘Anatomy’ was a major influence in my decision to attend to law school and my career as a lawyer.”

His latest writing project, he noted, is a courtroom thriller titled “Searching for Lilly,” which is an homage to the authenticity of John Voelker’s novel, and his capacity and willingness to confront the larger moral and ethical issues that often arise during a contested murder trial.

Milhizer has a lot of experience in the legal profession, the UPPAA said, having participated in hundreds of appeals, tried scores of criminal cases and served in multiple leadership positions as an Army judge advocate. For three years, he held a teaching appointment at the Judge Advocate General’s School at the University of Virginia.

In 2001, he joined the Ave Maria faculty. His course of offerings have included criminal procedure, criminal law, national security law and military law. Dean Emeritus Milhizer has been an invited presenter at law schools across the country, the UPPAA said, and his legal scholarship has been published in many prestigious law journals.

In May 2006, he was appointed associate dean for academic affairs, and in April 2009, he was appointed acting dean of the law school. In January 2010, he was appointed the law school’s second president and dean, and he served in that position until his return to full-time teaching in the summer of 2014. During the summer of 2009, under his leadership, the law school successfully accomplished the unprecedented feat of relocating from Michigan to Florida.

Book multi-faceted

“Dissecting Anatomy of a Murder is divided into into three sections: the early life and career of lawyer John D. Voelker (pen name Robert Traver), a detailed comparison of the real-life case in which Lt. Coleman A. Peterson shot and killed tavern owner Maurice Chenoweth point-blank in Big Bay versus the screenplay depictions of case materials, and an intense legal analysis of the pivotal issues including the insanity defense, jury nullification and the underuse of voir dire (eliminating unqualified jurors).

“I think it is a great story and one that is compelling for all sorts of reasons,” Milhizer said at a 2021 presentation of his book at Northern Michigan University.

Sprinkled throughout the copiously footnoted book are reminisces from Voelker about his career both as a struggling lawyer and then as 16 years as prosecuting attorney for Marquette County, the UPPAA said.

“Voelker’s love for the rugged beauty and wilderness of the U.P. comes through his disdain for how the newly constructed Big Mac bridge would open up the U.P. to just about anybody and how carefully he hid his favorite trout fishing hole,” wrote UPPAA President Victor R. Volkman in the U.P. Book Review. “Some of these reflections come to us through excerpts of his three prior unsuccessful novels and his extensive personal diaries which give us a rare look at the man behind the mirror.

“In one of life’s cruel ironies, Voelker was finally selected as a Michigan Supreme Court justice just weeks after ‘Anatomy of a Murder’ became a New York Times Bestseller. This would have also solved his financial woes but at the cost of forsaking his beloved U.P.”

More information about the U.P. Notable Book list, U.P. Book Review and UPPAA can be found on www.UPNotable.com

The UPPAA is a Michigan nonprofit with more than 100 members, many of whose books are featured at www.uppaa.org. UPPAA welcomes membership and participation from anyone with a U.P. connection who is interested in writing.

Christie Mastric can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.