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January: A Woman Judge's Season of Disillusion
An intimate look at the life of a female Superior Court judge, January entwines two stories – one personal, one professional – over one challenging, transformative year.
In the month of January, The Honourable Marie Corbett is adjudicating criminal trials on childhood sex abuse and other difficult cases. At the same time, she faces the imminent death from cancer of her closest friend, Anne Armstrong Gibson. Recently widowed, Anne must prepare her two young sons for life without her.
Marie travels daily between hospital ward and courtroom, reflecting on her own role as mother, wife, and trial judge. Recognizing the limitations of the criminal justice system, devastated by the death of her friend, Marie embarks on a path of self-discovery and faces a choice between civic duty and the life she wants to live.
In the month of January, The Honourable Marie Corbett is adjudicating criminal trials on childhood sex abuse and other difficult cases. At the same time, she faces the imminent death from cancer of her closest friend, Anne Armstrong Gibson. Recently widowed, Anne must prepare her two young sons for life without her.
Marie travels daily between hospital ward and courtroom, reflecting on her own role as mother, wife, and trial judge. Recognizing the limitations of the criminal justice system, devastated by the death of her friend, Marie embarks on a path of self-discovery and faces a choice between civic duty and the life she wants to live.
354 pages, Paperback
Published March 1, 2016
51 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 21, 2016
The book failed to deliver on its promise of disclosing how Ms. Corbett made the transition from the bench to a life that made her happy. The despair and pain that she felt while watching a close friend die of cancer was palpable. This part of the book was genuine.
However, the mere recitation of the steps taken to gown for court, recitation of conversations with clerks, and extracts from courtroom testimony and/or submissions of counsel did not disclose the reasons for why this particular judge felt that it was necessary to give up a highly esteemed position on the bench. All judges have to do what she did in the course of her normal day, and all of them have lives outside of the courtroom which present difficult challenges at one point or another. Not all judges make the decision to leave the bench.
I was disappointed by this book. The last paragraph of the book is set "3 years later" and Ms. Corbett states that she is "happy." I had thought that this memoir would have been devoted to the thoughts, insights and feelings that Ms. Corbett had between the time of the death of her friend and her decision to leave the bench. At no point in the memoir did Ms. Corbett explicitly state that she was going to leave the bench and why she had made the decision to do so.
It would have been interesting to read about the reactions to her decision, the opinions, comments and/or advice that she received (assuming that those around her did provide these to her upon learning of her choice) in the lead up to her decision. It would also have been very interesting to learn about the process of stepping down from the bench rather than retiring from the bench in the normal course.
I was disappointed that this book did not live up to the description that I had read about it. I'd been expecting an insight into how her time on the bench led this particular judge to leave. That element was missing, or it was far too subtle for me to grasp.
However, the mere recitation of the steps taken to gown for court, recitation of conversations with clerks, and extracts from courtroom testimony and/or submissions of counsel did not disclose the reasons for why this particular judge felt that it was necessary to give up a highly esteemed position on the bench. All judges have to do what she did in the course of her normal day, and all of them have lives outside of the courtroom which present difficult challenges at one point or another. Not all judges make the decision to leave the bench.
I was disappointed by this book. The last paragraph of the book is set "3 years later" and Ms. Corbett states that she is "happy." I had thought that this memoir would have been devoted to the thoughts, insights and feelings that Ms. Corbett had between the time of the death of her friend and her decision to leave the bench. At no point in the memoir did Ms. Corbett explicitly state that she was going to leave the bench and why she had made the decision to do so.
It would have been interesting to read about the reactions to her decision, the opinions, comments and/or advice that she received (assuming that those around her did provide these to her upon learning of her choice) in the lead up to her decision. It would also have been very interesting to learn about the process of stepping down from the bench rather than retiring from the bench in the normal course.
I was disappointed that this book did not live up to the description that I had read about it. I'd been expecting an insight into how her time on the bench led this particular judge to leave. That element was missing, or it was far too subtle for me to grasp.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2017
I really like the way this book was written. And the story is both heart-breaking and inspirational. I did think, though, that there was too much detail given to the court cases, even though I learned a lot as I read them. I preferred to read the more personal moments, those spent with family and friends.
I enjoyed the unique perspective of this book, and it was interesting to enter into the world of a Canadian Female Judge.
I enjoyed the unique perspective of this book, and it was interesting to enter into the world of a Canadian Female Judge.
September 11, 2016
A more fascinating read than I was expecting, but not quite what I was expecting at the same time.
First, the ugly. While Hon. Corbett wasn't born into upper class and she had to work hard to get there, that part of her life was really glossed over, and there was an air of aristocracy to the memoir that I struggled with at times (while educated and relatively well-read, I can't relate and struggle to find sympathy for the upper class and their unique problems).
Now, the good stuff. This book is full of fascinating little gems about Canada's court system, about life as an Ontario Superior Court Justice, about being a feminist working inside Canada's legal system at a time when women weren't seen as having a place, touching on a very sweet friendship (instead of seeing other women as competition), and a subtle reflection of what it means to have it all - and if it is even possible.
I would have liked to see more personal history and introspective, but she feels like a very private person even though she wrote this memoir. It's possible that because she had hit a level of social status she didn't want to drag personal matters out publicly.
Precisely because she withholds the gossipy bits, the book has a very different tone, which actually feels refreshing for a memoir.
It also serves as a reminder of how far women have come. Contrasting her respect for female colleagues to British PM Thatcher's disinterest, and reading about former Ontario Premier David Peterson's distain for more women in the legal profession reinforces how far we've come in only 25 years.
First, the ugly. While Hon. Corbett wasn't born into upper class and she had to work hard to get there, that part of her life was really glossed over, and there was an air of aristocracy to the memoir that I struggled with at times (while educated and relatively well-read, I can't relate and struggle to find sympathy for the upper class and their unique problems).
Now, the good stuff. This book is full of fascinating little gems about Canada's court system, about life as an Ontario Superior Court Justice, about being a feminist working inside Canada's legal system at a time when women weren't seen as having a place, touching on a very sweet friendship (instead of seeing other women as competition), and a subtle reflection of what it means to have it all - and if it is even possible.
I would have liked to see more personal history and introspective, but she feels like a very private person even though she wrote this memoir. It's possible that because she had hit a level of social status she didn't want to drag personal matters out publicly.
Precisely because she withholds the gossipy bits, the book has a very different tone, which actually feels refreshing for a memoir.
It also serves as a reminder of how far women have come. Contrasting her respect for female colleagues to British PM Thatcher's disinterest, and reading about former Ontario Premier David Peterson's distain for more women in the legal profession reinforces how far we've come in only 25 years.
March 2, 2017
"I was coming to realize that doing what was worthwhile did not always sustain the doer."
A moving account of the friendship between two successful women who bond over the course of one's illness. Both women, though hailing from different backgrounds, carved a blazing trail in the male-dominated judicial field.
Marie Corbett dons her robes to preside over difficult hearings daily while managing to look after her dying friend with great tenderness as soon as she steps out of her official attire, bringing her milkshakes and giving her facials.
Anne Gibson's resilience in the face of aggressively spreading cancer while setting up Wellspring for cancer care patients, arranging care for her elderly mother and keeping the family together is perhaps not as painful to read as her love for her boys.... Shown simply through the thoughtful weekly menus she instructs the housekeeper to prepare.
One hopes, along with Marie Corbett, that Anne might survive but winces in pain at her worsening debilitating and painful condition.
It was also an eye opener at the bias against women, even in the highest courts of Justice.
A moving account of the friendship between two successful women who bond over the course of one's illness. Both women, though hailing from different backgrounds, carved a blazing trail in the male-dominated judicial field.
Marie Corbett dons her robes to preside over difficult hearings daily while managing to look after her dying friend with great tenderness as soon as she steps out of her official attire, bringing her milkshakes and giving her facials.
Anne Gibson's resilience in the face of aggressively spreading cancer while setting up Wellspring for cancer care patients, arranging care for her elderly mother and keeping the family together is perhaps not as painful to read as her love for her boys.... Shown simply through the thoughtful weekly menus she instructs the housekeeper to prepare.
One hopes, along with Marie Corbett, that Anne might survive but winces in pain at her worsening debilitating and painful condition.
It was also an eye opener at the bias against women, even in the highest courts of Justice.
May 2, 2016
Excellent and refreshing
I chose this book after hearing an interview about it on cbc radio. Although I wished Marie had written more about the changes she made to her life and how that wasn't really the purpose and I respect that. This was an excellent caption of the true torment and suffering of someone with cancer and how it changes your life while you watch on the outside. I learned a lot about how it truly is about what we do in our personal life outside work that will make the difference. We inspire those around us which can live on for generations.
I chose this book after hearing an interview about it on cbc radio. Although I wished Marie had written more about the changes she made to her life and how that wasn't really the purpose and I respect that. This was an excellent caption of the true torment and suffering of someone with cancer and how it changes your life while you watch on the outside. I learned a lot about how it truly is about what we do in our personal life outside work that will make the difference. We inspire those around us which can live on for generations.
June 6, 2016
I loved this book! It's a well written story about friendship, dying, living, and the decisions surrounding each. The commitment of a friend to care for her dying friend, while maintaining a normal life as a mother, wife, and a Superior Court Justice, is inspiring. I highly recommend this book.
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April 26, 2019Enjoyed it
October 29, 2021
Moving, tragic, interesting…
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews