Her Honor

At a time when surveys reveal declining trust in our courts, this book offers reasons for hope and even pride. Her Honor: Stories of Challenge and Triumph from Women Judges features a collection of personal stories by and about some of the country’s most respected female judges. Each chapter author openly shares nuanced stories of challenges and successes, including the inequality, bias, and other barriers they faced and overcame in their lives. The 25 judges featured in Her Honor are from all levels of the state and federal courts, including Chief Judges and two Supreme Court Justices. Their moving stories will be all too recognizable by women who may currently be experiencing similar challenges and biases in their own career. Her Honor also demonstrates how the best of our judges share a passion for ensuring an accessible and fair system of justice, without a political agenda. They reveal a deep compassion for humanity along with an abiding respect for the law, respecting precedent but acting with courage if the law offers a way forward. All the judges in this book have lived lives of deep influence. The stories shared will extend that influence further and inspire future generations to persevere in their careers during even the most difficult times. PRAISE FOR HER HONOR “This is one of the most inspirational books I have ever read. The essays, by and about twenty-five inspirational women judges, are beautifully written and compelling accounts of lives filled with amazing accomplishments. They are stories of women who overcame great obstacles—sexism and racism and antisemitism and homophobia and poverty and so much else—to rise to the top of the legal profession and make a huge difference. I want all law students and lawyers to read it, and for that matter, all high school and college students who might be thinking of a career in the law.” -Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean and Jesse H. Choper Distinguished Professor of Law, University of California, Berkeley School of Law “I wish I had a book like this—full of the wisdom and testimony, trials, and triumphs of brilliant and accomplished women jurists—when I was a young law student who still didn’t fully understand the barriers I’d face as a young, Black woman in the legal profession and beyond. Their stories of grace and tenacity in the face of obstacles are beyond inspiring. And their focus on mentorship is so important. Their lived stories shake the ground and pave the way for all of us.” -Kimberly Atkins Stohr, Senior Opinion Writer and Columnist, The Boston Globe; inaugural columnist, The Emancipator “When women commit, we are all better for it. And the commitment of women in the legal arena, especially on the bench, is essential. This book shares the challenging, compelling and very human stories of some of the country’s most respected female judges and leaves us not just with a sense of the importance of their work but also of the importance of ensuring another generation of women follows in their footsteps. I loved learning more about these women and could have kept on reading more!” -Joyce White Vance, Distinguished Professor of the Practice of Law, University of Alabama School of Law and legal analyst for NBC and MSNBC “Her Honor is a breathtaking collection of the stories of pioneering women judges who made the nation’s courts look more like the nation they serve. Their stories are at once humbling for the obstacles they fought and inspiring for their determination and dedication to the rule of law.” -Prof. Steve Wermiel, American University Washington College of Law, co-author, Justice Brennan: Liberal Champion “As someone who’s often critical about the progress of women in the legal profession, I found this book to be a much needed antidote to my cynicism. It’s an illuminating, honest look at how female judges overcame substantial obstacles with grit and grace—and triumphed.” -Vivia Che