Perkins Coie’s Markus Funk Authors New Book, "Rethinking Self-Defence: ‘The Ancient Right’s’ Rationale Disentangled"

DENVER (January 13, 2021)—Perkins Coie is proud to announce that T. Markus Funk, firmwide chair of the White Collar & Investigations practice, has authored a new book, "Rethinking Self-Defence: 'The Ancient Right's' Rationale Disentangled," published by Hart/Bloomsbury.

"Given the intense national interest in policing and criminal justice reform sparked by the tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and others, I hope this book adds meaningful analysis to the ongoing conversation on this important issue," Markus said. "The goal is to spark readers, whether legal practitioners, scholars, law makers, or otherwise, to think more deeply about the injustices plaguing our criminal justice system and to perhaps more critically examine why we are doing what we are doing."

The book's publication comes amid a historic national debate on the core criminal law and civil rights topic of self-defense, specifically, and the moral limits on state action, generally. It uniquely addresses key issues such as the State's claim to a monopoly on force, procedural justice, the need to shore up the justice system's legitimacy and creditworthiness, everyone's presumptive 'right to life,' and the importance of ensuring equal standing between citizens. Rethinking Self-Defence also breaks ground by addressing public perceptions of 'just' and 'right' outcomes, as well as the emphasis legal systems place on State power.

In addition to his role as the chair of Perkins Coie's White Collar & Investigations practice, Markus is a founding co-chair of the ABA-CJS Global Anti-Corruption Committee. Prior to joining the firm, Markus served as a federal prosecutor in Chicago, and as section chief with the U.S. Department of State in post-conflict Kosovo. The author of eight other books and hundreds of articles, he has taught criminal law at Oxford University, where he also received his Ph.D. in law, as well as at institutions including the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, the University of Arkansas-Little Rock, Loyola University-Chicago, Denver University, and the University of Colorado.

Markus will discuss the book and its findings during a virtual launch on Thursday, January 28. The event is co-sponsored by Northwestern University School of Law, the American Bar Association's Criminal Justice Section, and Perkins Coie. Northwestern Professor Juliet Sorensen will serve as the host.

Early reviews and praise for Markus' book include:

"Dr. Funk's exceptional book, truly a timely contribution to the searing national debate, offers a critically important fresh take on self-defense's key practical, theoretical, ethical, and philosophical issues."—Hon. Bernice B. Donald, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

"This thorough and enlightening analysis will stand as the most comprehensive review of self-defense law to come forth in decades. … [A] fascinating read for legal scholars and criminal law practitioners alike."—Hon. Virginia M. Kendall, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and former Assistant U.S. Attorney

"Dr. Funk in exemplary fashion examines a central question of modern political life. The result is a book that offers the most detailed comparativist study on the subject yet published."—Daniel Polsby, Dean Emeritus, George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School

"'[E]in großer Wurf' ('a major coup') in the area of self-defense theory and analysis [which also offers] the first perfectly accurate and comprehensive English-language summary of the history of, and nuanced debate over, the past and present self-defence law in Germany."—Dr. Volker Erb, Professor of Law, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Germany

"An engaging analysis that is recommended reading for anyone with an interest in criminal law defences."—Mark Dsouza, Deputy Director, Centre for Criminal Law, University College London

"The book provides a thoughtful, deep, and nuanced way for the reader to think about the deadly-force controversies we face in the 21st Century."—Joshua Dressler, Distinguished University Professor at The Ohio State University