Black Judges On Justice

The views of leading African American jurists from around the country on the way our judicial system works. Included is an interview with Abigail R. Rogers, South Carolina's first female African American judge.

Presents the views of leading African American judges on the way our judicial system works. From these in-depth interviews with judges of all backgrounds emerges an extraordinary range of outspoken views & often surprising insights on justice & racial prejudice in America. From pioneers such as Leon Higginbotham & Constance Baker Motley (the first black female Fed. judge) to such outspoken mavericks as Bruce Wright of New York City, the testimony of these judges provides penetrating analysis of the role of the jurist, of the daily malfunctioning of the courts, & of the future of the judicial system itself. ¿A fascinating insight into the problems facing us as a nation & an important contribution to understanding how race & justice intertwine. ¿

The author, a New York State Supreme Court Justice and a black man, argues that our legal system is fundamentally unfair towards African Americans--and documents his assertion with many cases drawn from his long experience as a lawyer and judge. A timely and relevant subject in the aftermath of the Rodney King trials and the LA riots.

In Her Honor, Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell provides a rare and thought-provoking insider account of our legal system, sharing vivid stories of the cases that came through her courtroom and revealing the strengths, flaws, and much-needed changes within our courts. Judge Cordell, the first African American woman to sit on the Superior Court of Northern California, knows firsthand how prejudice has permeated our legal system. And yet, she believes in the system. From ending school segregation to legalizing same-sex marriage, its progress relies on legal professionals and jurors who strive to make the imperfect system as fair as possible. Her Honor is an entertaining and provocative look into the hearts and minds of judges. Cordell takes you into her chambers where she haggles with prosecutors and defense attorneys and into the courtroom during jury selection and sentencing hearings. She uses real cases to highlight how judges make difficult decisions, all the while facing outside pressures from the media, law enforcement, lobbyists, and the friends and families of the people involved. Cordell’s candid account of her years on the bench shines light on all areas of the legal system, from juvenile delinquency and the shift from rehabilitation to punishment, along with the racial biases therein, to the thousands of plea bargains that allow our overburdened courts to stay afloat—as long as innocent people are willing to plead guilty. There are tales of marriages and divorces, adoptions, and contested wills—some humorous, others heartwarming, still others deeply troubling. Her Honor is for anyone who’s had the good or bad fortune to stand before a judge or sit on a jury. It is for true-crime junkies and people who vote in judicial elections. Most importantly, this is a book for anyone who wants to know what our legal system, for better or worse, means to the everyday lives of all Americans.

New York Supreme Court Justice Bruce Wright has always been a man of controversy and conviction, a black man ready to take on the injustices of a white world. In this candid memoir, Justice Wright writes as much about America in the 20th century as he does about his life during that time. Wright's remembrances will keep readers amused and astounded, as he recounts his unforgettable life, lived on his own terms. of photos.