Criminal That I Am: A Memoir

Defense attorney Ridha provides an unflinching account of representing Cameron Douglas, son of actor Michael Douglas, on a drug charge, and the series of personal and professional missteps that made Ridha the subject of a federal investigation. She recalls her first encounter with Douglas, who was incarcerated at the time, when she was first enlisted as his defense lawyer, and the development of their romantic relationship, admitting “I sign[ed] over to him every waking moment.” When Douglas is placed in solitary, Ridha cancels a weekend ski trip to spend every possible moment with him in the attorney room, where he suffers a debilitating panic attack. After weeks of failing to get anti-anxiety medication from the prison, Ridha illicitly provides Douglas with her own Xanax, which he shares with other inmates. Informed upon, Ridha is given a slap on the wrist, but the trial of Douglas’s suppliers drags her back into the limelight, with destructive effects on her career and relationship. She adeptly conveys the emotional breakdown that transpires, articulating (with a tinge of humor) her despair and the horror of public shaming: “My bra will become the stuff of newspaper headlines.” Positioned as both insider and outsider, lawyer and criminal, Ridha creates a juicy narrative that serves as a vehicle for reflecting on criminal behavior and the human inclination to transgress. Agent: Rachel Sussman, Chalberg & Sussman. (May)