Civita Di Russo's 'Indomita' recounts three decades of legal battles against Italian mafia

Lawyer Civita Di Russo has published 'Indomita – La mia battaglia contro le mafie' (Castelvecchi, 2025), a memoir covering thirty years of defending mafia turncoats (collaboratori di giustizia). The book details her professional journey, inspired by judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, and explores the ethical complexities of defending criminals while maintaining personal integrity. Di Russo recounts the psychological toll of her work, including threats, the need for constant vigilance, and the challenge of separating the criminal from the person. She emphasizes that legal defense does not imply moral justification, citing the Italian Constitution. The narrative weaves personal stories—her grandmother Nannina, Sister Flaviana, her friend Titti, her brother Angelo, and her daughter Elena—with professional milestones, such as her first case with 'zio Totò' and a mafia member who fell in love with her. The book offers an insider's perspective on the fight against organized crime in Italy.