Brooke At The Bar

Brooke at the Bar is a candid, lively, and sometimes humorous autobiography by Brooke Wunnicke, the first woman to be a trial and appellate attorney in Wyoming and who went on to become a legal legend in Colorado. In conversational writing, Brooke provides insights from a lawyer, mentor, and educator. She advocates that, while not perfect, the United States has the world’s best legal system and that all citizens need to understand and protect their rights, freedoms, and responsibilities. Brooke shares vignettes of her early life—California in the Great Depression, college at Stanford, law school in Colorado during World War II, and the 1946 opening of her Cheyenne law office, a precedent for women in law. She vividly describes memorable and amusing experiences with clients, witnesses, lawyers, juries, and judges and explains some significant cases. She recounts important and dynamic events from her twelve years as Denver’s chief appellate deputy district attorney, an era during which she was an inestimable mentor to many young lawyers who became prominent in the private and public sectors. Brooke passionately believed “the law has been and will continue to be civilization’s hope.” In her book’s final part, she demystifies many legal terms and procedures and describes the parts of a civil jury trial—including information for jurors and witnesses—and provides an enthusiastic and clear refresher on the US Constitution and Bill of Rights. Brooke at the Bar is a unique and historically important contribution that will be of interest to general readers, scholars, and students interested in US law, political science, government, women’s history, twentieth-century western history, civil rights, and legal communities, including those in Wyoming and Colorado, where Brooke was “at the Bar.”

To reach the top, they’ll have to reach for each other. Brooke Marshall is trapped… in her home town, in her minimum wage job, and in her lack of relationships. The only thing she has to look forward to is trivia night. Her dream in fashion design disappeared when her bank account reached zero, and she feels doomed to remain in Red Maple Falls till the end of time. Tyler Carrington grew up rich and spoiled, but is ready to get out from under his father’s thumb and make something of his own. After buying property to start a vacation home business, he dives in headfirst. Only he’s not too sure of what he’s doing. Good thing Brooke is savvy in how to make something sell. The trivia rivals turn the other cheek to help each other out, but when an opportunity comes to Brooke to get out of Red Maple Falls, will she stay put or leave the man she loves behind?

Reprint of the original, first published in 1871.