Inside the Robe: A Judge's Candid Tale of Criminal Justice in America

by Katherine Mader

Have you ever wondered what a judge is really thinking? To most people, judges are mysterious creatures. Judge Mader shines a bright spotlight on the hidden folds of the judging world. The old saying is that judges merely "follow the law." Yet following the law can produce wildly different results depending upon each judge's background, politics, and life experiences. Even the floor of the courthouse to which a case is assigned can mean the difference between prison and freedom.  Never before has the judging world been laid bare for all to see.

   "A thoughtful and provocative personal account and an excellent primer on the American judicial process."--Kirkus Reviews

  "This book literally held me hostage until the last page." --author Michael Connelly

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir, True Crime, History, Amazon, Ebooks

393 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 4, 2021

Reviews

[Eve Koguce · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a huge fan of memoirs, biographies, and autobiographies, I could not go by this book when it landed in my email among other promoted titles. Not so long ago, I finally changed my reading preferences on BookBub and started receiving promo deals for the books I’m really interested in reading.

I am not as ardent a fan of crime fiction or shows, though. Since the time the only crime books we knew were written by Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle (yes, I’m exaggerating, but the gist remains), I never found myself immersed in untangling a murder mystery on the pages. As a teenager obsessed with books the way I was then, I, of course, read a few mysteries by renowned crime authors. And still, it ended there, and until this day, I haven’t developed a habit of binge-reading crime novels.

Having made this confession, I must say that Agatha Christie’s autobiography is one of the best books of this kind I have read so far. I enjoyed it immensely and highly recommend it to both fans of memoirs like myself and the author’s fans.

Returning to the book I am reviewing. “Inside the Robe: A Judge's Candid Tale of Criminal Justice in America” by Katherine Mader is an absolutely fascinating and eye-opening insight into the judge’s work. It is written in the form of a diary, which makes it easy to follow. The author meticulously documented a year of her life as a judge of one of the Los Angeles County courthouses.

Every job and every life role is more than the scope of duties a person performs. A doctor not only sets diagnoses and prescribes relevant medicine. A surgeon not only cuts flesh and sews it back. A cop does not solely capture the criminals and issue fine tickets. A parent’s tasks go beyond feeding, clothing, and educating their children. All of these people – all of us – along with performing what our various roles imply, must adhere to the rules of each group we belong to. Doctors and surgeons have to play by the rules of the hospital administration. Policemen must follow the internal rules and instructions as to how to use weapons on the job, which words not to use when performing an arrest, etc. Mothers and fathers are expected to participate in the groups formed within schools to ensure the interaction of their children with their class and teachers. It is the same for judges.

A judge not only presides in court and makes decisions about the punishment measures. A judge walks on the thin ice between colleagues, politicians, judges in more influential positions, trying not to stir wider public opinion, not to spoil the relationships with attorneys, and, ultimately, to ‘follow the law.’ Which, as we can easily see reading Judge Mader’s story, is much harder than can be expected.

Katherine Mader mentions that most people, unconnected with the world of justice, see judges as some superior beings. She says that the title ‘Judge’ clings to you even outside the courthouse, sometimes even among your friends. It is an interesting moment, demonstrating, in my opinion, most vividly how unique a judge’s profession is.

“Inside the Robe” by Katherine Mader is a non-fiction book. For lovers of crime books, it might be a drawback. This book depicts real life, and in real life, not every crime gets solved and not every bad guy gets what they deserve. Some trials the author writes about had started before she began writing this diary. Some weren’t finished within the limits of the year covered in the book. The aim of murder mysteries is to give the reader the satisfaction of seeing a murderer exposed and put in the hands of the justice system. The aim of Judge Mader’s memoir was to show what a year in a judge’s chair is. Some might find it unsatisfactory, but if we stop and think about it – can we imagine how incomparably more upsetting it must have been for the author?

The thing that struck me the most about this book is the realisation of how many crimes the justice system is forced to deal with are committed by people with mental health issues. Something about it nagged at me while I read and analysed the cases mentioned. It still scratches at my consciousness, but I am not ready to express my reflections in words. It is something about us treating the whole mental health problem in the wrong way. It seems that society in general understands that these people require a different attitude, but, at the same time, we expect them to adapt to the rules of conduct designed for everyone.

I am grateful to the author for the excellent read, which “Inside the Robe: A Judge's Candid Tale of Criminal Justice in America” proved to be, and for giving me the food for thought about the US system of justice.

[HR-ML · Rating 4 out of 5]

Non-fiction.

Katherine Mader received her law degree from the
University of California @ Davis. This fascinating
book explored her career: defense attorney on criminal
cases, Deputy DA on criminal cases (she started as a
volunteer Deputy DA to prove her worth & then was
hired), the first Inspector General of the LAPD & the
last 17 years of her career as Superior Court Judge on
criminal cases. She explained that LA County had 38
courthouses!

Judge Mader spoke of the politics within the judiciary
(which tended not to promote or delay promotion or
choice assignments to those judges perceived as
"outspoken") & politicos who favored law and order
vs defendant rehabilitation or a change in the law IE
3 strikes). She added "There are many reasons your
own felony court doesn't happen. A judge can be too
slow, too harsh, too lenient or too rude. (58% mark)"

Mader spoke of defendants (some lied in the courtroom),
crime victims & judges who were subjected to being dis-
qualified on a case (& received no specifics) or an appeals
court overturned the judge. She spoke of the team in her
courtroom IE the bailiff (trained in the sheriff's office)
the clerk, & lastly the argumentative deputy DA (assigned
to her) who wanted to please her own boss. At times a
defense attorney or deputy DA became defensive when
Judge Mader directed him/ her to verify medical records
or rehab records or probation time spent or left, of the
defendant (the actual records) & report back to her in court.

Mader's cases involved: murder, vehicular homicide, gangs,
sexual abuse, drugs etc. She stated that most defendants
who insisted on being his/ her own attorney were incapable
of carrying this out due to: emotional volatility, mental
illness, not following court rules/ procedures, being pre-
occupied w/ irrelevant issues, refusing to go to court.

Mader said judges were critical of each other and who had
the harder job: judges w/ civil vs criminal cases? Judges
Governor-appointed vs elected by voters?

Active or retired military came before her court, some w/
PTSD. An expert witness testified in her court those w/
PTSD experience 3 major problems: 1) re-experience the
trauma 2) avoidance (avoidance may include substance
abuse) & 3) hypervigilance. Someone who had a traumatic
event may overreact and distort reality in the present.
(81-82% mark).

[Pru · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to @netgalley for giving me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This nonfictional read gives us a frank view into the day-to-day lives of the American criminal justice system and the Judges who seem to control all the power. Written in diary format and spanning over one year Judge Mader shows the inner turmoil and isolation that her work brings.

I found this read interesting and definitely learnt a few facts however I found the writing dry and at times felt like I was reading a legal textbook. I did enjoy the politics within the judicial system but the story lines were disjointed due to the diary format. The reader was only given brief summaries of the cases (possibly for legal reasons) yet I would have preferred more of the nitty gritty details.

[Una Tiers · Rating 2 out of 5]

The introduction soured this book for me. I'm beginning to think introductions and dedications should be at the end of the book so we can jump into the story.

[Tore · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I grew up, the USA seemed like the promised land, a bountiful land of the free. Now it's more like the land of the unfree. According to statistics published by the BBC and on Wikipedia, USA has the highest rate of incarceration in the world, by a fair margin. How did this come to be? This book does not say much about this, and the author is pretty positive to the judicial system in her country, at least in California. I can't say I support that statement much, I was sceptical before reading it, and I came away with my views enforced, not weakened.

After having watched a lot of (good) television like the Goodwife and the Good Fight, I wanted to learn about how it compared with an actual courtroom, and found this book. It is well written, judge Mader comes off as both knowledgable and experienced, as well as compassionate and reasonable. But compared with the judicial system in my country, hers does not fare well. Defendants are offered (by the prosecution) wildly different plea bargains for similar crimes, and differences of that kind can depend on which floor (!) the trial is allotted to. Some prosecutors are going for the maximum sentences no matter what, not because it serves society, but because it may serve their careers to do so, or vice versa, if they are viewed as to lenient, their careers may stall.

In my country, Norway, the jury system was disbanded in 2017, because it was too unpredictable, a crapshoot, is the term used by Judge Mader in several instances. Here, the judicial system seeks to reform criminals, and I'd say this approach is much more successful than the US system. It is rare that anyone are sentenced to more than 20 years in prison here, while in the US, 40-50 years is not at all unusual, and it need not even be because of crimes like murder, due to of abysmal three strike rule, that ensured people were locked up for life, for much less serious offenses. Some people undoubtedly deserve these harsh sentences, having done senseless acts that resulted in loss of life. But all in all, this aggressive approach, does more harm than good.

So I live in a liberal country, with lots of safety nets, universal health care, unions, 12 months paid maternity leave, 5 weeks mandatory vacation, free education and many other great benefits that are frowned upon, even actively hated in the USA, especially by right wing politicians and activists. So is it bad, resulting in slackers and criminals and a bad economy? Quite the opposite. To make a comparison, Detroit had between 200 and 300 murders each year the past 5 years. In my metropolitan area, Oslo and adjacent counties, a population of about 1.5 million people - the number was 22 in 2020, or a tenth the Detroit rate. There are very few homeless people, and most people are not rich, but not many are poor either. It's possible to live off one income, and work hours are 37.5 hours a week, and you're paid for overtime beyond that. In the US, you are either paid a lot of money (judges, lawyers, doctors) or very little 7-10 dollars an hour for "unskilled" workers, creating a larger and larger gap every year that goes by. This makes it harder to survive, and easier to turn to crime, for an increasing number of people.

Back to the book: while not exactly convincing me that the judicial system in California is a great thing, I find the book both interesting and enlighting. Recommended if you want to know more about the inner workings, of the day to day in a criminal courthouse in Los Angeles.

[JohnP · Rating 5 out of 5]

An illuminating look into the life of a criminal court judge in LA

You have seen Law & Order, CSI, maybe you have been a juror. Perhaps, in addition to all of those experiences, you work in the criminal justice system. Either way, this book is an intriguing window into the day-to-day experiences of a criminal court judge in a busy courthouse in downtown Los Angeles.

In the format of a diary, we see cases come and return later, and are often surprised as new details emerge. Of course a book of this length can only provide snapshots of the many hundreds of matters the author handled during the chosen year. But over and over again she provides the background to many challenging decisions she had to make, especially involving sentencing. The reader is placed in the position of asking how they would decide, newly appreciating just how difficult such choices can be.

The author also provides enlightening stories of her previous careers in and around criminal justice. The reader gets an informed sense of how laws and policies have evolved, and is left to consider how they should change in the future.

[Flo · Rating 4 out of 5]

We’ve all seen them: the judges in their black robes presiding over courtrooms, whether we’ve been there for a traffic violation or jury selection. The robe gives them power and mystique. Judge Katherine Mader has not written a ��tell-all” book, but rather a very personal peek into her criminal courtroom in a way most of us have not experienced before, as well as her thought processes. How does a judge think? What goes into making a decision? How does it feel knowing you’re sending someone to prison for years, maybe even for life? How does the judge preside over her staff? How does one build a career from law school to a judgeship? What do judges talk about over lunch? Who judges the judges? These questions and more are answered by Judge Mader as she takes us “Inside the Robe” during one recent year on the bench in Los Angeles. A portion of the book is devoted to her family history and how it inspired her to write this testimonial to honor them. Highly recommended.

[Annette Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inside the Robe by Judge Katherine Mader is described a candid tale of criminal justice in America, and I found myself intrigued by the idea of a behind the scenes look at day to day life in the courtroom. The book is written in a diary format, which really does give it a feeling of looking at someone's personal papers, and the judge does not mince her words when it comes to describing her day to day interactions, not just with the accused, but also with the other court professionals such as bailiffs, court reporters and both prosecution and defence attorneys. She can be cutting and comes across as almost blunt at times, but it is also clear that she gives a lot of thought to her decisions and rulings, and has a genuine interest in seeing justice served. The diary format also helped to give a sense of how long a case takes to go through the court process as we follow particular cases across several months from first appearance to sentencing. I felt like I had gained some insight into the complexities of the job by reading the book . I have always enjoyed reading and learning about other people and their lives and I would recommend this book to anyone else who shares that interest.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

[Chrissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredibly moving, inspiring, raw account of the day to day dealings of a Superior Court judge. I highly recommend this book, not just for someone currently working or aspiring to work in the criminal justice system, but for the rest of us who are on the outside and rarely get a glimpse into its inner workings. This account from Judge Mader had me on an emotional roller coaster from page one. Her daily writings were well-organized and not loaded with legal jargon, making it easy for the reader to follow along with her cases as they progressed. She examines her own personal history throughout and questions her own inadequacies, which makes this read all the more compelling.

Judge Mader very candidly writes about prosecutors who are afraid to confront their supervisors, officers who stick their necks out and pay the price, distinctions construed between elected and appointed judges, and the far-reaching influence of the Commission on Judicial Performance. She doesn’t hold back as she describes her ascent to the bench and the consequences she faced for placing what was right, above what was expected.

In a time when we are all trying to understand how our systems of justice work for and against us, this book is quite simply an essential read.

[Matt Kelland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting. Most of the legal stories we read (fiction and non-fiction) focus on a few standard tropes:
- The smart sleuth or detective who puzzles out whodunit
- The dogged cop who catches the bad guy
- The fearless prosecutor who puts the bad guy away
- The heroic defender who prevents injustice being done to the innocent

We never hear about judges. Other than Judge John Deed, I can't think of any off the top of my head. So it's interesting to find out what life's like from the bench. It turns out, it's not what you probably expect. At heart, judges are people, doing a shitty job, in shitty circumstances, and they're subject to pressures we don't realize. There's no such thing as "simply following the law." Judges routinely disagree with cops, DAs, defense attorneys, politicians, bailiffs, and many others. Sometimes, they push back. Often, they don't, because they don't want to jeopardize their own position, especially if they're elected judges.

That said, it wasn't the most engaging read. It's a diary, not a story. Some of it is very bland, and many of the most interesting aspects are, naturally, left out. But nevertheless, worth reading if you want to understand this aspect of the justice system.

[KBV GAtors · Rating 4 out of 5]

I happened on this book by accident and am glad I did. I agree with others’ perceptions that parts of the book were dry but I understand why. I must also say that it was eye-opening because I live in Florida and was employed in the legal field for 48 years, and some of the procedures in California are significantly different than in Florida, and I now understand why the State of California has so many problems. The thought of an attorney disqualifying a judge for anything but a significant and prejudicial reason is foreign to me. Also, cases bouncing from one judge to the other is unheard of in Florida. Apparently, attorneys have a great deal more influence in California than Florida. Add to that Judge Mader’s description of prosecutors and public defenders being handed files for the first time 2 days before a scheduled trial, and I could only shake my head at the lunacy! But all of the above explains a lot about why California is in the mess it is. I’m so glad I read this book, and I’m equally glad I don't live in California. I’m going to recommend this book to some of my former co-workers who will, I’m sure, find it as eye-opening / and disheartening - as I did.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well written and informative book. It was somewhat disturbing to find that judges are plagued with peer pressure just as we are in many situations in life. I for one, would like to think the judicial system was above that. It was also very revealing to those of us that have little or no experience with the court system. Although I've served on a jury and had jury duty several times I've had no insight to the court room. The most disturbing revaluation in the book was to openly hear of the corruption within police departments. I've long known that they go to great lengths to protect each other and close ranks around bad cops. Hearing someone from within the system talk about it makes it all the more disturbing. With all the bad publicity departments are having across the country you would think they would want to make examples of those that have no business with a badge and a gun. None of that is the real story here though and the book is a very informative and interesting book.

[Donna Boyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to #NetGalley, Judge Katherine Mader and the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book prior to publication in exchange for my review. Inside the Robe: A Judge's Candid Tale of Criminal Justice in America by Judge Katherine Mader is an inside look about what takes place in America's courtrooms. Mader talks about the day to day things that go on in her courtroom as well as addressing larger questions such as what happens when inmates refuse to come to court and whether a judge can manipulate a jury trial to get what he wants. It is informative and interesting at the same time. It pulled back the curtain on the mysteries of what happens in the judicial system and it was a bit disturbing to discover that maybe justice is not blind after all, maybe a particular judge can mean the difference between getting a case dismissed or going to prison. It is worth reading.

[Irene · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a copy of this e-book from Net Galley in exchange for a review. I regret to say that I did not finish the book. I'm surprised. I love memoirs and this book promised to teach me something new. I don't know much about the law or the court system and the idea of going on a vicarious tour inside the robes of a judge was very appealing. Unfortunately, I found the tour very dull. It felt like the author has been a judge for so long that the novelty has worn off. She could have been describing her job as a supermarket cashier -- what her surroundings look like, who she eats lunch with and what they talk about, where she parks, what she wears -- but there was no life there. I got the impression that much of the job is routine. Most court dates deal with the details of moving a case closer to a trial or a negotiated settlement and I suppose there's not much drama in that.
I'm sorry it didn't carry me through to the end. I tried.

[RN · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am left wanting more!

I found this book fascinating. I wish she could have gone a little deeper into these cases. I feel like we didn't even get the Reader's Digest version! I very much appreciate her attention to law instead of serving her self interests or fulfilling some political agenda. How in the world do those crooked judges get away with their decisions. Do they not have supervisors or someone to hold them accountable? Even the Supreme Court Justices often make decisions based on their political ideologies instead of the Constitution
which just makes me ill. During elections when it's time to vote whether to retain certain judges I find it almost impossible to find non-biased information on them let alone their political party. Anyone can find out what party I'm registered as but not judges! I appreciate Judge Mader's transparency!
I recommend this book to anyone who loves to read!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a law student and future attorney, I knew this was a must-read for me. I worked for a judge this past summer, so I had a bit of an idea of how a judge's day goes and what it's like in a judge's chambers. I think that was a good background going into this book. I knew the basics and this was just extra insight into the judge's mind. I can see how it would be a little more difficult for someone who hasn't been in that position. The diary-like organization was neat, but I'm not sure I loved it. It was a little disjointed and sometimes hard to keep up with the recurring but interrupted storylines. I can also tell it was written by someone in the legal field, and maybe not in a great way. It was a little dry even though the actual stories she was telling were interesting. Overall, I would still recommend this book but I wish it was organized a little more directly and written a little less so. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for sending me a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I would like to thank the publisher and @netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. Being interested in all things true crime, and having degrees in Criminology (and contemplating law school!), this book really interested me. It is about a retired Judge who gives behind the scenes information about what it's like being a judge. I liked how she wrote it almost as a daily journal and told stories of how she first started out as a public defender and eventually rose to a criminal court Judge. I also enjoyed hearing different cases she has seen and presided over. I also enjoyed hearing the author's thoughts on different topics, both controversial topics and mundane topics - all while relating them to cases she has presided over or heard about from other judges. This book is really a behind the scenes look at being a judge and I eeally enjoyed it!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was provided a free copy of this book by @netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
I really enjoyed this inside look into the life of a judge. Judge Mader journaled for a year about her cases, decisions, and typical courtroom procedures. She also brings up the politics of being elected vs appointed, the fine line that sometimes needs to be walked to ensure the judge adequately does their job without stepping (too hard) on toes, and the difficulties of sentencing and filling a jury. I thought it was a very thoughtful and well written discussion on some pretty difficult topics. So much of sentencing and decisions made by judges are not black and white issues.
If you like learning about someone else's life and job, you will enjoy this. This book was published yesterday, 1 September, so it is now available to purchase!! 🥳
#InsideTheRobe #NetGalley

[LEO TOLSTOY · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beginning was about some family background and I wondered if the synopsis was about a different book. Thankfully I made it through that part and kept reading. Once she started describing the day-to-day events occurring in the courtroom my interest peaked and I became engaged with her reality and time as a judge. If you are a hardcore true crime junkie and can can get through the beginning, you'll enjoy reading her journal entries. The legal jargon was kept to a minimum and explained for those readers who may not be familiar with it, but it was detailed enough to get the point across. Overall I found this an interesting narrative and enjoyed reading it.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book to read and review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating

As a reader of mysteries and relative of attorneys, I've always been interested in what goes on behind the scenes and how realistic the courtroom scenes are in the books I read. When I discovered this book, I jumped at the chance to read it. I'm glad that I did. The book is clear; as far as I can tell, even handed; and interesting. It points out both the strengths and flaws of the judicial process, which is far from perfect and more political than its designers probably hoped for. But, like our political system, for all its problems, it seems to be the best one around. Reading this book has definitely reinforced that opinion. As a bonus, the book is well written and beautifully edited. Kudos to the anonymous proofreader who did such a masterful job.

[Amy Hagerup · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the life of a judge. Mader writes a year-long journal that helped me learn what really happens in the courtroom. I appreciated that she included so much of her own life and feelings - it made the judge more human to me. Her book helped to educate me on the length of a trial, the ups and downs of dealing with prosecutors, defendants, victims, families, bailiffs, etc. I was impressed by how she questioned her own biases and didn't try to sound like the one who was doing it right. I think this should be required reading in high school to help our young people grasp the impact of one stupid decision. Even with the treatise on a professional job, the author kept the material moving along and interesting. Highly recommend.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you a true crime junkie? A law student contemplating a career in criminal law? This book contains the most accurate portrayal of the daily workings of a criminal courtroom. Courtroom 302 tried to do the same, but the author was a journalist and there are some subtleties that are lost on those who aren't criminal law attorneys/judges. As a criminal attorney, I knew I was going to love this book when the author talked about her difficult relationship with one of the attorneys assigned to her court. Highly recommend. Note: I was provided a copy of this book by net galley in exchange for an honest review and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to do so.

[April Prosser · Rating 5 out of 5]

What’s it really like, being a judge?

First of all, as Katherine Mader makes clear, judges do not operate in a separate universe, however it may seem to a juror or spectator. In this very human yet inspiring book, we follow a year in the life of Judge Katherine Mader of the Los Angeles criminal courts. Every day is different, balancing the law’s requirements, the needs of defendant and victim, and the personalities of prosecutors, attorneys, colleagues with her own personality and values. This book is fascinating. Particularly if you love courtroom drama, this nonfiction book presents another side to what is going on in the courthouse.

[Mikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable read. The criminal justice system in America seems incomprehensible to the layperson but the author has given anecdotal insights into its workings and intricacies coupled with personal commentary on her own experiences as a judge, an insider's view. I love to read crime and justice books, and it's useful to have some information about the judicial process from the perspective of the judges' bench, often not examined or explained by an author who mainly concentrates on the courtroom drama.

[Angelica Perez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good lawyer book! The view of a judge is so different from that of an attorney and it made for an interesting read. The cases the author discussed were horrible, but captivating ones. I also love how the judge talked about how she loved seeing women of color training to be judges 🥹

Also, the fact that she brought up multiple times that it is impossible for judges to be impartial is so important. Judges are humans and it’s impossible for them to not have some biases. Our judicial system is not perfect by any means.

[John Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging and Informative

Well written and thoughtful.

I think the judge-author is too sympathetic to the judge in the Brock Turner case, but gives interesting insights into the process nonetheless. In any case, that’s one subject out of dozens she covers in the course of a year.

I feel like some of the entries were truncated, some thoughts not completed. Overall, though, a good read.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once you buy books from Amazon, they start suggesting books hoping you will buy more. This one popped up in an email with a price of $0.00. Obviously the price was right so I took a chance. It lived up to its title. I have served on 3 jury trials. It was nice to get a glimpse of what happens before a case goes to trial and what the judge and attorneys do when they send the jury out of the room.

[sequoia spirit · Rating 5 out of 5]

i thoroughly enjoyed this book.. i liked getting to see some of the behind the scenes happenings.. i liked how it was done in a journal format.. a year in the life of a judge.. i learned a lot about why so many cases settle instead of going to trial.. just so informative.. it kept my interest till the end.. and how she incorporates her family history is beautifully done..
i wish more people would do books like this.. i'm a huge fan of 'fly on the wall' writings/readings..

[JP · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book, it was basically a journal of a judge working within the LA court system. Read it while on holiday, and because of the short chapters it was a breeze to get through. You come away learning a whole lot more about the inner workings of the court system (at least in California), disciplinary machinations concerning judges, and how they feel about each other with respect to their work. Highly recommend!

[Dusty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Judge Mader, a criminal court judge in LA County, kept a court diary throughout 2016. This book is the result of that diary, and is her attempt at giving an “insider’s view” on being a criminal court judge. She is a colorful writer with very clear descriptions and a distinctive voice. This book was a pleasure to read and gave me a better understanding of the incentives and constraints on judges through her daily vignettes.