This readable book walks step-by-step through the criminal adjudication process, from the post-arrest bail decision and the right to counsel through the post-trial direct appeal. It analyzes the main cases and statutes in each area, showing how the doctrine has developed and its current state. The book also places great emphasis on the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, working through their text in a clear, understandable way, explaining not only the law but the strategic issues that a lawyer might face. This is the ideal book for the student who wants both a broad overview of how the parts of the process fit together and enough detail to understand the thorny problems that are most likely to arise on an exam and in practice. This book works equally well as a stand-alone text or as a supplement to a traditional casebook.