Does the world need yet another law journal? Chapman Dean John Eastman "borrow[s] from wiser men in a different context" to note that "a decent respect for the opinions of the academic world requires that we should declare the causes which impel us to begin yet another."

Further into the Dean's intro, we get this blinding flash of the painfully obvious: "Upon perusing the criminal justice journals on the shelves of law libraries, one finds that the articles they carry provide largely one perspective - that of the defense bar." Will this one be different?

We hope that the Chapman Journal of Criminal Justice will make a unique contribution not only by offering an interdisciplinary perspective but also a diversity of viewpoints - provided by academics, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and judges - on controversial and emerging issues in the field. As you peruse this inaugural edition, you will see that commitment made manifest.

We welcome this new addition to the literature and extend our best wishes for success.