Seeking Justice in the Land of Impunity

Seeking Justice in the Land of Impunity analyzes the groundbreaking war crimes trials that have taken place in the courtrooms of Guatemala. Guatemala was the first country to prosecute a former head of state for genocide and has been a leader in trials of cases of sexual violence, all in adverse political conditions and with limited resources. Jo-Marie Burt brings transitional justice processes to life by recounting eyewitness testimony she observed as a courtroom monitor. By analyzing yearslong attempts to adjudicate some of the country’s most horrific human rights crimes, Burt carefully takes the reader through these trials, which she ties to crucial issues in and beyond Guatemala. Ultimately, the book reveals the value of truth commissions and human rights trials, how "innocence" and victimhood are portrayed in legal proceedings, the importance of voice and testimony, and how the pursuit of justice can help reconfigure the collective memory of difficult pasts.