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Her Honor: My Life on the Bench...What Works, What's Broken, and How to Change It
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.
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.
352 pages, Paperback
First published October 26, 2021
84 people are currently reading
3584 people want to read
About the author
LaDoris Hazzard Cordell
1 book51 followersJudge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell is a legal commentator and police reform advocate, who is a frequent commentator on news outlets including NPR, CNN, and MSNBC. A graduate of Stanford Law School, she became the first African American woman jurist in Northern California, a position she held from 1982 to 2001. Prior to her time on the bench, she was the first lawyer to open a private practice in East Palo Alto, CA, a low-income community of color, and was an Assistant Dean of Stanford Law School where she implemented a highly successful minority admissions program. Following her retirement from the bench, she was a Vice Provost at Stanford University and, in 2010, was appointed the Independent Police Auditor for the City of San Jose. Judge Cordell's public service record spans decades, during which time she has overseen commissions that investigated violence and mental health care in the jail system, as well as accounts of racism in the San Francisco police department. She has received numerous awards, including Silicon Valley NAACP’s William E.B. Dubois Award, the Iola Williams Public Service Award, the National Council of Negro Women’s Public Service Award, the Social Justice Award from Legal Advocates for Children & Youth, and the Rose Bird Memorial Award from the California Women Lawyers. Judge Cordell founded the African American Donor Task Force to increase black participation in the national bone marrow registry. She is the co-founder of the African American Composer Initiative and CA Parks for All. An artist and pianist, she resides in California with her partner and is the proud mother of two daughters.
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January 13, 2024
Perfect for fans of Law and Order!
Judge LaDoris Cordell reflects on her time on the bench, reflecting on her time meting out justice in all kinds of cases from small claims, probate (wills/trusts), criminal law cases, mental health hearings, and family law matters. She details the ways in which the legal system has improved over the years but also some of the broken processes and proposes some fixes.
Although a work of non-fiction, this book was just as entertaining and interesting as fiction. The saying, "Truth is stranger than fiction" is definitely true in this case. Her Honor is also extremely funny. My partner kept asking me what was so funny because I kept laughing so much.
One area that Her Honor addressed was the issue of drunk driving. Cordell mentioned that 30 Americans die every day as a result of drunk driving. Cordell even mentioned that she was the victim of a drunk driver resulting in a hairline fracture to her spine. The driver kept his license. Cordell did mention that she started to require offenders to install the interlock device which measures the blood alcohol level of a driver before starting the vehicle. This has undoubtedly saved lives. However, this does not go far enough in some cases.
Every week, I receive a free newspaper from the City of Troy. Before chucking it in the recycling bin, I always flip to the criminal news section. This is the most entertaining section of the paper. One drunk driver told police that she didn't have to provide identification because she was traveling like on a horse. This argument did not hold up, and she was booked for drunk driving. There are quite a few people who are extreme drunk drivers. They have been arrested for drunk driving more than ten times and driving without a license more than ten times. Why are these folks out of prison? The Court took away the license, but these folks just won't stop driving. When I was working in the criminal law field, one attorney told me that he had a client facing charges related to alcohol. The client could either go to jail for a month or he could go on probation for three years. The client really wanted to go to jail so he could get out and start drinking as soon as possible.
There was a section on the book about name changes. I would have LOVED to hear more about some of the crazy names that people come up with. Do you remember that time where someone was named Bus Stop 45 or Tula Does the Hula? The adoption section was also quite heart warming.
One area that I wish was touched on was the complete misperception that most people have of the legal system. If you watch almost any criminal type show, you will remember the Miranda warnings, "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You are entitled to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, you can be provided an attorney at no cost." So most people think, "YES!!! That is the one time in life that it pays to be poor. I get a lawyer for free! It's my lucky day!" Well, not quite. When I worked in criminal law, the supervising lawyer had these court appointed cases (he would represent people arrested who were too poor to afford their own lawyer). For each case, he would receive compensation according to a schedule. However, the schedule is a joke. For example, I live in Oakland County, Michigan. The court appointed attorney can be paid $75 to $1,380 (for a murder charge). This is a lawyer who probably has $200,000 to $300,000 in student loans. To make ends meet, the lawyer has to have many cases, turning cases as quickly as possible to make ends meet. The lawyer simply could not spend lots of time on one particular case. He was not calling in experts. Most of the time, he would encourage the client to plead guilty for reduced charges and then ask for leniency during the sentencing phase. If you pay a lawyer an hourly rate, the lawyer can do a much more comprehensive job. When Making a Murder came out, there was an outrage at how the attorney for Brendan Dassey didn't do very much to help him out. Back in the day, attorneys were paid $300 for a murder case. $300! Murder cases usually take multiple days so the attorney is losing money. He wants to turn the cases as fast as possible. It is not fair to the defendants. It is really very sad.
Overall, an extremely entertaining book especially if you love legal dramas like Law and Order!
*Thanks, Celadon, for a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest opinion. I also listened to this book on Audible which was paid for by yours truly.
2024 Reading Schedule
Jan Middlemarch
Feb The Grapes of Wrath
Mar Oliver Twist
Apr Madame Bovary
May A Clockwork Orange
Jun Possession
Jul The Folk of the Faraway Tree Collection
Aug Crime and Punishment
Sep Heart of Darkness
Oct Moby-Dick
Nov Far From the Madding Crowd
Dec A Tale of Two Cities
Connect With Me!
Blog Twitter BookTube Facebook Insta
Judge LaDoris Cordell reflects on her time on the bench, reflecting on her time meting out justice in all kinds of cases from small claims, probate (wills/trusts), criminal law cases, mental health hearings, and family law matters. She details the ways in which the legal system has improved over the years but also some of the broken processes and proposes some fixes.
Although a work of non-fiction, this book was just as entertaining and interesting as fiction. The saying, "Truth is stranger than fiction" is definitely true in this case. Her Honor is also extremely funny. My partner kept asking me what was so funny because I kept laughing so much.
One area that Her Honor addressed was the issue of drunk driving. Cordell mentioned that 30 Americans die every day as a result of drunk driving. Cordell even mentioned that she was the victim of a drunk driver resulting in a hairline fracture to her spine. The driver kept his license. Cordell did mention that she started to require offenders to install the interlock device which measures the blood alcohol level of a driver before starting the vehicle. This has undoubtedly saved lives. However, this does not go far enough in some cases.
Every week, I receive a free newspaper from the City of Troy. Before chucking it in the recycling bin, I always flip to the criminal news section. This is the most entertaining section of the paper. One drunk driver told police that she didn't have to provide identification because she was traveling like on a horse. This argument did not hold up, and she was booked for drunk driving. There are quite a few people who are extreme drunk drivers. They have been arrested for drunk driving more than ten times and driving without a license more than ten times. Why are these folks out of prison? The Court took away the license, but these folks just won't stop driving. When I was working in the criminal law field, one attorney told me that he had a client facing charges related to alcohol. The client could either go to jail for a month or he could go on probation for three years. The client really wanted to go to jail so he could get out and start drinking as soon as possible.
There was a section on the book about name changes. I would have LOVED to hear more about some of the crazy names that people come up with. Do you remember that time where someone was named Bus Stop 45 or Tula Does the Hula? The adoption section was also quite heart warming.
One area that I wish was touched on was the complete misperception that most people have of the legal system. If you watch almost any criminal type show, you will remember the Miranda warnings, "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You are entitled to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, you can be provided an attorney at no cost." So most people think, "YES!!! That is the one time in life that it pays to be poor. I get a lawyer for free! It's my lucky day!" Well, not quite. When I worked in criminal law, the supervising lawyer had these court appointed cases (he would represent people arrested who were too poor to afford their own lawyer). For each case, he would receive compensation according to a schedule. However, the schedule is a joke. For example, I live in Oakland County, Michigan. The court appointed attorney can be paid $75 to $1,380 (for a murder charge). This is a lawyer who probably has $200,000 to $300,000 in student loans. To make ends meet, the lawyer has to have many cases, turning cases as quickly as possible to make ends meet. The lawyer simply could not spend lots of time on one particular case. He was not calling in experts. Most of the time, he would encourage the client to plead guilty for reduced charges and then ask for leniency during the sentencing phase. If you pay a lawyer an hourly rate, the lawyer can do a much more comprehensive job. When Making a Murder came out, there was an outrage at how the attorney for Brendan Dassey didn't do very much to help him out. Back in the day, attorneys were paid $300 for a murder case. $300! Murder cases usually take multiple days so the attorney is losing money. He wants to turn the cases as fast as possible. It is not fair to the defendants. It is really very sad.
Overall, an extremely entertaining book especially if you love legal dramas like Law and Order!
*Thanks, Celadon, for a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest opinion. I also listened to this book on Audible which was paid for by yours truly.
2024 Reading Schedule
Jan Middlemarch
Feb The Grapes of Wrath
Mar Oliver Twist
Apr Madame Bovary
May A Clockwork Orange
Jun Possession
Jul The Folk of the Faraway Tree Collection
Aug Crime and Punishment
Sep Heart of Darkness
Oct Moby-Dick
Nov Far From the Madding Crowd
Dec A Tale of Two Cities
Connect With Me!
Blog Twitter BookTube Facebook Insta
1-awaiting-review-but-read
November 10, 2021Review to come
________________
This book has started off amazingly well. It points not to white privilege but to white lack of knowledge and how that can affect justice. But this is not bitter polemic, it's written by a warm and friendly person, you can tell. It's also interesting.
The author first sat as a judge, just on one case, in a municipal small-claims court in Sunnyvale, CA, where only 5% of the population is black, so she is amazed that all of them, judge, litigant and defendant are all black! The litigant says that she is a well-regarded hairdresser and that she wanted payment for braiding the other woman's hair. The defendant said that the cornrows were a mess and she couldn't go out without a scarf. The judge examined her had and parted the hair revealing matted roots instead of clean cornrows. The hairdresser said that it was wear and tear over the last few weeks since it had been done. The defendant said but cornrows are supposed to last a couple of months. The judge ruled that she had to pay, but a lesser amount.
The author said that most of the judges were white men, what would they have known about roots, cornrows and braids, let alone known they would have had to examine the scalp.
That was a really good start to the book! Eventually, two years after she applied, Governor Jerry Brown appoints her as the first African-American female judge in Northern California. Even though I've just started this book, I was so pleased for her.
There are authors who might have really nice personalities in real life but it hasn't translated through their writing and you don't warm to them, like the authors of the last two books I read, 30 Years Behind Bars: Trials of a Prison Doctor and My Friend Anna: The True Story of a Fake Heiress. This author, LaDoris Cordell, is coming across as warm, friendly, kind of eager and not at all above herself for her achievements. I haven't been this enthusiastic about a book for ... at least a few weeks, lol.
________________
This book has started off amazingly well. It points not to white privilege but to white lack of knowledge and how that can affect justice. But this is not bitter polemic, it's written by a warm and friendly person, you can tell. It's also interesting.
The author first sat as a judge, just on one case, in a municipal small-claims court in Sunnyvale, CA, where only 5% of the population is black, so she is amazed that all of them, judge, litigant and defendant are all black! The litigant says that she is a well-regarded hairdresser and that she wanted payment for braiding the other woman's hair. The defendant said that the cornrows were a mess and she couldn't go out without a scarf. The judge examined her had and parted the hair revealing matted roots instead of clean cornrows. The hairdresser said that it was wear and tear over the last few weeks since it had been done. The defendant said but cornrows are supposed to last a couple of months. The judge ruled that she had to pay, but a lesser amount.
The author said that most of the judges were white men, what would they have known about roots, cornrows and braids, let alone known they would have had to examine the scalp.
That was a really good start to the book! Eventually, two years after she applied, Governor Jerry Brown appoints her as the first African-American female judge in Northern California. Even though I've just started this book, I was so pleased for her.
There are authors who might have really nice personalities in real life but it hasn't translated through their writing and you don't warm to them, like the authors of the last two books I read, 30 Years Behind Bars: Trials of a Prison Doctor and My Friend Anna: The True Story of a Fake Heiress. This author, LaDoris Cordell, is coming across as warm, friendly, kind of eager and not at all above herself for her achievements. I haven't been this enthusiastic about a book for ... at least a few weeks, lol.
November 3, 2023
After the murder of George Floyd we seem to hear the term 'social justice' echoed everywhere; but so often it is just that - an echo - bouncing off the marbled halls of a legal system that rings hollow to most 'reasonable persons.' Judge Cordell guides you through these halls; as the first African American woman to sit on the Superior Court of Northern California she is able to provide a 'behind the curtain' view of the most fundamental paradox in any legal system: the difference between ethics and the law. To me this is a 'how sausage is made' book: once you know what the ingredients used to make sausage are you may not find it as palatable the next time it is served. Judge Cordell was also the Independent Police Auditor for the City of San Jose for five years (2010-2015) and this lends even more weight to her voice when she examines the systemic problems now facing our legal system. Highest recommendation
November 16, 2021
**Many thanks to @CeladonBooks and @judgecordell for an ARC of this book!**
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere"-Martin Luther King Jr.
As the first African American woman to sit on the Superior Court of Northern California, Judge Cordell has seen it all---and has the stories and the proverbial battle scars to prove it! This book opens with a court case where Judge Cordell's knowledge of African American hair played into her ability to make a truly just and informed decision, one that a white male judge would NEVER have been able to adequately make with their limited exposure to cornrows and the ins-and-outs of haircare. What does this prove?
Much like in our education system and our police force...equal representation is not some sort of pipe dream, but needs to quickly become a reality in order to ensure liberty AND especially justice for all.
From this attention-grabbing intro, Judge Cordell moves through several facets of the law and gives anecdote after anecdote from her experiences in the courtroom, explaining everything from sentencing hearings, estates cases, probate, divorce filings, juvenile cases, custody hearings, name changes, mental health cases, judge appointments and jury selection. It's incredible how she manages to pack SO much into less than 300 pages, but after reading this book, I have a basic understanding of how so many of these laws and cases work, which for material that can be heavy, is quite impressive.
The beauty of this memoir is that it is incredibly informative without feeling dry, and all of the snippets of Cordell's career are thoughtfully selected for maximum impact. The role of money, race, bias, and the somewhat bonehead archaic laws that Cordell had to uphold at times (through gritted teeth) are all explored thoroughly here, and there are plenty of emotionally charged moments with different plaintiffs and defendants throughout as well to keep both your mind and heart engaged.
Cordell also takes the time to sum up her thoughts at the end of the book in a neatly titled chapter "The Fix" where she summarizes the main point of each preceding chapter, tackling the problem and then the solution. All of her ideas, from judge training (which I couldn't believe isn't really a thing!) to abolishing the three strike rule all play well in context, and her justifications are based not only on experience, but on wisdom. She also peppers this book with facts that blew my mind, such as the fact that 1 in 3 adults in the United States cannot read above a sixth grade level, which made my bibliophile heart cry a bit. Rather than a bunch of platitudes and outright criticism of the system, however, the fact that Judge Cordell's memoir ends with the positivity and focused thinking needed to make REAL change in the system was uplifting, encouraging, and all I needed to know to help do my part as a citizen!
I am not a law professor, but I would think this book would be FANTASTIC for an intro to law course, as students could move through each chapter while learning about different facets of the law as they appear here. I applaud Judge Cordell for her extraordinary career and her reasons for stepping down from the bench when she did are also admirable. Although law books are stereotypically as dry as the Sahara, this memoir manages to deliver the facts, the heart, and the avenue forward our justice system needs to follow to make REAL and lasting change!
4 stars
#CeladonReads #HerHonorBook #partner
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere"-Martin Luther King Jr.
As the first African American woman to sit on the Superior Court of Northern California, Judge Cordell has seen it all---and has the stories and the proverbial battle scars to prove it! This book opens with a court case where Judge Cordell's knowledge of African American hair played into her ability to make a truly just and informed decision, one that a white male judge would NEVER have been able to adequately make with their limited exposure to cornrows and the ins-and-outs of haircare. What does this prove?
Much like in our education system and our police force...equal representation is not some sort of pipe dream, but needs to quickly become a reality in order to ensure liberty AND especially justice for all.
From this attention-grabbing intro, Judge Cordell moves through several facets of the law and gives anecdote after anecdote from her experiences in the courtroom, explaining everything from sentencing hearings, estates cases, probate, divorce filings, juvenile cases, custody hearings, name changes, mental health cases, judge appointments and jury selection. It's incredible how she manages to pack SO much into less than 300 pages, but after reading this book, I have a basic understanding of how so many of these laws and cases work, which for material that can be heavy, is quite impressive.
The beauty of this memoir is that it is incredibly informative without feeling dry, and all of the snippets of Cordell's career are thoughtfully selected for maximum impact. The role of money, race, bias, and the somewhat bonehead archaic laws that Cordell had to uphold at times (through gritted teeth) are all explored thoroughly here, and there are plenty of emotionally charged moments with different plaintiffs and defendants throughout as well to keep both your mind and heart engaged.
Cordell also takes the time to sum up her thoughts at the end of the book in a neatly titled chapter "The Fix" where she summarizes the main point of each preceding chapter, tackling the problem and then the solution. All of her ideas, from judge training (which I couldn't believe isn't really a thing!) to abolishing the three strike rule all play well in context, and her justifications are based not only on experience, but on wisdom. She also peppers this book with facts that blew my mind, such as the fact that 1 in 3 adults in the United States cannot read above a sixth grade level, which made my bibliophile heart cry a bit. Rather than a bunch of platitudes and outright criticism of the system, however, the fact that Judge Cordell's memoir ends with the positivity and focused thinking needed to make REAL change in the system was uplifting, encouraging, and all I needed to know to help do my part as a citizen!
I am not a law professor, but I would think this book would be FANTASTIC for an intro to law course, as students could move through each chapter while learning about different facets of the law as they appear here. I applaud Judge Cordell for her extraordinary career and her reasons for stepping down from the bench when she did are also admirable. Although law books are stereotypically as dry as the Sahara, this memoir manages to deliver the facts, the heart, and the avenue forward our justice system needs to follow to make REAL and lasting change!
4 stars
#CeladonReads #HerHonorBook #partner
November 6, 2021
LaDoris Hazzard Cordell, who earned her law degree from Stanford and had her own office in Santa Clara county didn't know what she was signing on for when she agreed to step in as a temporary judge in a municipal court in the early 1980's. It turned out to be a case that involved only 2 other people besides herself -- two women in their late 20's, both African American. They were locked in a dispute involving payment for work on hair. Black women's hair. This early part reminded me of Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Evidently it was believed that a woman of color would be better suited to try such a case. LaDoris then went on to become the first African American jurist in Northern California, serving in municipal and superior courts and putting into effect programs that have changed the methods in which justice is dispensed. For the layperson, there is a lot to learn about the inner workings behind the bench, and with her wit and warmth and obvious care for people, she can add to her many accomplishments, writer.
October 1, 2021
Quick thoughts:
It’s hard to know just what to say about an important book like this one. I’m so grateful Judge Cordell shared her story and thoughts with us.
What an inspiring, empowering, and informative story. Written by the first African American woman to sit on the Superior Court of Northern California, Her Honor is a refreshing memoir about Judge Cordell’s commitment and service to her community. I’ll never forget the experience of reading this book.
About the book: “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.”
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
It’s hard to know just what to say about an important book like this one. I’m so grateful Judge Cordell shared her story and thoughts with us.
What an inspiring, empowering, and informative story. Written by the first African American woman to sit on the Superior Court of Northern California, Her Honor is a refreshing memoir about Judge Cordell’s commitment and service to her community. I’ll never forget the experience of reading this book.
About the book: “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.”
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
October 20, 2021
I’m really grateful to Celadon books for sending me a copy of this book to read and honestly review. I can’t say that it is a book I would have picked out for myself, but I greatly enjoyed it. I had not heard of Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell, but I am glad she decided to share of piece of her story. While it was not a memoir in the traditional sense it was a memoir of her life as a judge. LaDoris Hazzard Cordell was the first African American female judge in the California Superior courts and I found her experiences and perspective to be interesting. While her essays and stories do educate about types of law or law principles I did not have a hard time following or feel that it was too dry for pleasure reading. It did take me a little longer than normal to finish this book, but I think that is more about me and where I am than it is about this book. I work in child welfare and have spent a fair amount of time either a party or audience in court and I thought she did a great job highlighting areas where we can continue to improve.
October 9, 2021
Judge Cordell was the first black woman to preside as a judge in the Superior Court of Nothern CA. In her memoir, she provides behind-the-scenes accounts of her daily life as a Judge. I’ve always been interested in the legal system and how it works. So, if you are too and want an insider's perspective, you will learn so much by reading this book.
Judge Cordell writes with full transparency. She shares the good and the bad cases that came across her courtroom along with the flaws that need to be fixed in our justice system. Her stories are very personal and honest and it was a truly eye-opening experience for me.
Judge Cordell writes with full transparency. She shares the good and the bad cases that came across her courtroom along with the flaws that need to be fixed in our justice system. Her stories are very personal and honest and it was a truly eye-opening experience for me.
October 20, 2021
Inspiring, hopeful, and wonderfully necessary. All the feels. Snort laughing one minute and crying the next. Just beautiful.
October 16, 2021
I thank Celadon Books for sending me ARC of this book.
LaDoris Cordell is the first African American female Superior Court judge of Northern California. Prior to that she was an assistant Dean at Stanford University who started a program for minority recruitment and also had her own practice.
Her book “Her Honor” gives us glimpses of the legal system through her experience as a judge. Her experience in handling various issues and cases, ranging from divorce, adoption to murders are well documented by her in this book. Witty and humorous at times, her thoughts, way of handling, her own judgements and insights on the past and current laws and conclusions are described in her unique writing style. Although I do not have any experience of the legal system, I did not find it difficult to follow the book, because she has written it for audiences from different backgrounds. We always see legal system from our point of view, from this book, we realize what goes into the minds of the judges, how they have to balance between their own judgement, the case and uphold the legal system.
When I started reading this book, I wasn’t aware what I would come across, and must admit that I was overwhelmed but her her way of writing was what kept me going and I enjoyed this book. I’m sure her experience and insights will be a good resource for students who would like to go ahead in legal system as their career options. For others, this provides information that we may not come across otherwise.
I’m glad LaDoris Cordell decided to write her experiences which will help us learn a lot about legal system.
LaDoris Cordell is the first African American female Superior Court judge of Northern California. Prior to that she was an assistant Dean at Stanford University who started a program for minority recruitment and also had her own practice.
Her book “Her Honor” gives us glimpses of the legal system through her experience as a judge. Her experience in handling various issues and cases, ranging from divorce, adoption to murders are well documented by her in this book. Witty and humorous at times, her thoughts, way of handling, her own judgements and insights on the past and current laws and conclusions are described in her unique writing style. Although I do not have any experience of the legal system, I did not find it difficult to follow the book, because she has written it for audiences from different backgrounds. We always see legal system from our point of view, from this book, we realize what goes into the minds of the judges, how they have to balance between their own judgement, the case and uphold the legal system.
When I started reading this book, I wasn’t aware what I would come across, and must admit that I was overwhelmed but her her way of writing was what kept me going and I enjoyed this book. I’m sure her experience and insights will be a good resource for students who would like to go ahead in legal system as their career options. For others, this provides information that we may not come across otherwise.
I’m glad LaDoris Cordell decided to write her experiences which will help us learn a lot about legal system.
October 26, 2021
Thank you to Macmillan audio and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on October 26th, 2021.
Fantastic book and great on audio (read by author)!
Cordell was the first female African American judge in Northern California, but frankly, that has nothing to do with why this was a good book. Cordell takes us through her time on the bench — each chapter covering a segment of her career, including in-depth case analysis with relevant case law and background, as well as insight into how she made her decisions. She often illustrated the difference in law and policies across states which I found both fascinating and surprising. The book covers her time in criminal, marriage and family, and juvenile courts as well as her experiences with plea bargaining, hot button issues such as DUIs, the three strikes law, judicial misconduct, and the whole process of appointing or electing judges (beyond fascinating and completely new information to me).
The concluding chapter lists a set of ten “broken” aspects of our judicial system and her recommendations for fixes. By then we are familiar with those opinions as they had come up in situ during the varied experiences, so it was easy to follow. I can’t stress enough how clearly she described the mandatory vs discretionary parts of a judge’s position. One very interesting (to me) story was about the recall of Judge Persky, who had given a too-short sentence (as perceived by the public) to the Stanford swimmer convicted of sexual assault on an unconscious girl. Despite the fact that the judge had only followed the sentencing guidelines and had done absolutely nothing wrong (no accusation of malfeasance), he was booted off the bench in an effort led by two Stanford law professors (who really should have known better). CA changed the law that allowed judge recall to require some kind of malfeasance as a result of that case. Personally, my opinion of Stanford law professors took a nosedive. I hate anything that puts politics and / or popular sentiment above the law.
This book was about what Judge Cordell thought and did and had little or no discussion of how being black impacted her career; however, she was very explicit about the races of people involved in certain cases (if relevant) and provided a lot of information about race and bias in the courtroom, including studies and statistics of the variability of convictions, sentencing, and plea bargains based on race. She did a superb job of describing principles, problems, solutions, and what stands in the way without resorting to inane, politically correct memes with nothing of substance behind them.
I loved it.
Fantastic book and great on audio (read by author)!
Cordell was the first female African American judge in Northern California, but frankly, that has nothing to do with why this was a good book. Cordell takes us through her time on the bench — each chapter covering a segment of her career, including in-depth case analysis with relevant case law and background, as well as insight into how she made her decisions. She often illustrated the difference in law and policies across states which I found both fascinating and surprising. The book covers her time in criminal, marriage and family, and juvenile courts as well as her experiences with plea bargaining, hot button issues such as DUIs, the three strikes law, judicial misconduct, and the whole process of appointing or electing judges (beyond fascinating and completely new information to me).
The concluding chapter lists a set of ten “broken” aspects of our judicial system and her recommendations for fixes. By then we are familiar with those opinions as they had come up in situ during the varied experiences, so it was easy to follow. I can’t stress enough how clearly she described the mandatory vs discretionary parts of a judge’s position. One very interesting (to me) story was about the recall of Judge Persky, who had given a too-short sentence (as perceived by the public) to the Stanford swimmer convicted of sexual assault on an unconscious girl. Despite the fact that the judge had only followed the sentencing guidelines and had done absolutely nothing wrong (no accusation of malfeasance), he was booted off the bench in an effort led by two Stanford law professors (who really should have known better). CA changed the law that allowed judge recall to require some kind of malfeasance as a result of that case. Personally, my opinion of Stanford law professors took a nosedive. I hate anything that puts politics and / or popular sentiment above the law.
This book was about what Judge Cordell thought and did and had little or no discussion of how being black impacted her career; however, she was very explicit about the races of people involved in certain cases (if relevant) and provided a lot of information about race and bias in the courtroom, including studies and statistics of the variability of convictions, sentencing, and plea bargains based on race. She did a superb job of describing principles, problems, solutions, and what stands in the way without resorting to inane, politically correct memes with nothing of substance behind them.
I loved it.
March 6, 2025
Wonderfully written. Informative and insightful. Highly recommended
October 8, 2021
I’m generally particular when it comes to reading memoirs and biographies. So when Her Honor arrived (to my surprise) in my mailbox from Celadon books, I was skeptical as to whether I would enjoy the book. Was I ever wrong!
From the start, beginning with the introduction, I was hooked. Cordell certainly has a knack for writing in a way that is easy to understand. It’s as if you were conversing with a friend. Cordell deftly explains legal concepts, and goes further to describe her thought processes for her judicial decisions.
Topics covered in the book run the gamut. Some of the topics are marriage, divorce, criminal cases, probate, and my personal favorite, name changes. With topics such as the above, Cordell introduces actual case files, describes the circumstances, offers her opinions, and finally how she ruled on each case. Thoroughly intriguing.
In addition to actual case file decisions, Cordell also details the shortcomings of the judicial system and offers ten possible solutions for creating a better system that is equitable for every American.
Her Honor is a superb memoir and a definite must read for those readers interested in the court system, the legal doctrines behind the decisions, and how certain laws can have a detrimental effect in the outcomes. Five stellar stars.
I received a physical ARC from Celadon Books, and a digital ARC through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
From the start, beginning with the introduction, I was hooked. Cordell certainly has a knack for writing in a way that is easy to understand. It’s as if you were conversing with a friend. Cordell deftly explains legal concepts, and goes further to describe her thought processes for her judicial decisions.
Topics covered in the book run the gamut. Some of the topics are marriage, divorce, criminal cases, probate, and my personal favorite, name changes. With topics such as the above, Cordell introduces actual case files, describes the circumstances, offers her opinions, and finally how she ruled on each case. Thoroughly intriguing.
In addition to actual case file decisions, Cordell also details the shortcomings of the judicial system and offers ten possible solutions for creating a better system that is equitable for every American.
Her Honor is a superb memoir and a definite must read for those readers interested in the court system, the legal doctrines behind the decisions, and how certain laws can have a detrimental effect in the outcomes. Five stellar stars.
I received a physical ARC from Celadon Books, and a digital ARC through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
October 26, 2021
In her memoir, Her Honor, Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell provides a thought-provoking insight into the black-robed women and men who preside in the state courts. To say I felt a beacon of pride at seeing such a strong, enigmatic woman of color go on to become the first African American jurist in Northern California is an understatement.
Judge Cordell's transformative work throughout the courts is commendable, ranging from areas such as racial bias, family court matters such as marriage, divorce and adoption, and rehabilitation. The case that stood out for me was from the juvenile court trial of Jessica T. not because judge Cordells ruling was controversial but for her ability to take a calculated risk on a young girl with a reduced sentence. This precious gift of a second chance allowed Jessica to reflect on the error of her ways after which she went on to graduate from college and live a crime-free life.
Judge Cordell's greatest accomplishment in my opinion is her steadfast desire towards continuous improvement of the legal system that lives up to the democratic principle of Justice for All.
Judge Cordell gives the good, the bad, and the ugly of the courtroom and gives readers a peek into her innermost thoughts on a multitude of cases showcasing her extensive work within the legal system. For those unfamiliar with the legal system, or if you are a law school dropout such as myself, there is a plethora of knowledge on the internal operations of the bench told with Judge Cordell's sharp satire.
Judge Cordell's perspective offers a healthy dose of pragmatism that is sprinkled with an earnest desire for justice. Despite all the negativity and the media frenzy surrounding some of her prominent cases she has kept persevered. I enjoyed Judge Cordell's writing style that immediately put me at ease and felt as if I were chatting with her friend. Her lessons can serve as inspiration for anyone interested in the legal profession or simply passionate about Justice for All.
Thank you to Celadon Books for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Judge Cordell's transformative work throughout the courts is commendable, ranging from areas such as racial bias, family court matters such as marriage, divorce and adoption, and rehabilitation. The case that stood out for me was from the juvenile court trial of Jessica T. not because judge Cordells ruling was controversial but for her ability to take a calculated risk on a young girl with a reduced sentence. This precious gift of a second chance allowed Jessica to reflect on the error of her ways after which she went on to graduate from college and live a crime-free life.
Judge Cordell's greatest accomplishment in my opinion is her steadfast desire towards continuous improvement of the legal system that lives up to the democratic principle of Justice for All.
Judge Cordell gives the good, the bad, and the ugly of the courtroom and gives readers a peek into her innermost thoughts on a multitude of cases showcasing her extensive work within the legal system. For those unfamiliar with the legal system, or if you are a law school dropout such as myself, there is a plethora of knowledge on the internal operations of the bench told with Judge Cordell's sharp satire.
Judge Cordell's perspective offers a healthy dose of pragmatism that is sprinkled with an earnest desire for justice. Despite all the negativity and the media frenzy surrounding some of her prominent cases she has kept persevered. I enjoyed Judge Cordell's writing style that immediately put me at ease and felt as if I were chatting with her friend. Her lessons can serve as inspiration for anyone interested in the legal profession or simply passionate about Justice for All.
Thank you to Celadon Books for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
October 26, 2021
I wasn’t ready for the rollercoaster when I started Her Honor by LaDoris Hazzard Cordell, a retired California Superior Court Judge.
Her Honor Details the various cases that Cordell has presided over, and issues as well as people she’s faced in and out of court. And in some ways, how it shaped her perspective. Something I enjoyed is how she took the time to explain the history of many terms and procedures. All of which were typically sandwiched between the cases that it related back to in each chapter. Since this was the majority of the book, the introduction, served its purpose well. It mainly went into how she became a judge, what was enticing about it, and some of her background. This let the rest of the book get on and do its thing. As the synopsis states, it does “shine a light on all areas of the legal system…” Especially the countless difficult decisions that she and other judges had to make concerning heavy topics and/or complex situations.
Overall I enjoyed Her Honor, and I recommend checking it out if your looking for a nonfiction court book that's very informative.
I received this book from Celadon Books for this review.
This review also appears on my blog Toile, Think, Go.
Her Honor Details the various cases that Cordell has presided over, and issues as well as people she’s faced in and out of court. And in some ways, how it shaped her perspective. Something I enjoyed is how she took the time to explain the history of many terms and procedures. All of which were typically sandwiched between the cases that it related back to in each chapter. Since this was the majority of the book, the introduction, served its purpose well. It mainly went into how she became a judge, what was enticing about it, and some of her background. This let the rest of the book get on and do its thing. As the synopsis states, it does “shine a light on all areas of the legal system…” Especially the countless difficult decisions that she and other judges had to make concerning heavy topics and/or complex situations.
Overall I enjoyed Her Honor, and I recommend checking it out if your looking for a nonfiction court book that's very informative.
I received this book from Celadon Books for this review.
This review also appears on my blog Toile, Think, Go.
October 18, 2021
Thank you to Celadon Books for the gifted copy.
What a page-turner! As a law school hopeful, Her Honor was an incredibly interesting primer on the legal system and judicial independence. It was particularly interesting to hear Judge Cordell's point of view as the first Black woman judge in NorCal, at a time when the justice system was transitioning from being more rehabilitative to more punitive in approach. I highly, highly recommend this book to any prospective law students.
However, I did dock one star because this book is rather dry. If you're not interested in the law, or in a particular kind of law that Judge Cordell writes about, you will probably be bored. Rather than a memoir of her life, Her Honor is similar in structure to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's book My Own Words, in that it is composed of a series of essays on various legal topics. While she hints at her life as a single mother, a Black woman, and an LGBTQ+ individual (she does not label herself but was married to a man and is now in a long-term partnership with a woman), that is certainly not the focus of the book. As a result, it likely will not hold your interest if you are not a legal nerd like me.
What a page-turner! As a law school hopeful, Her Honor was an incredibly interesting primer on the legal system and judicial independence. It was particularly interesting to hear Judge Cordell's point of view as the first Black woman judge in NorCal, at a time when the justice system was transitioning from being more rehabilitative to more punitive in approach. I highly, highly recommend this book to any prospective law students.
However, I did dock one star because this book is rather dry. If you're not interested in the law, or in a particular kind of law that Judge Cordell writes about, you will probably be bored. Rather than a memoir of her life, Her Honor is similar in structure to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's book My Own Words, in that it is composed of a series of essays on various legal topics. While she hints at her life as a single mother, a Black woman, and an LGBTQ+ individual (she does not label herself but was married to a man and is now in a long-term partnership with a woman), that is certainly not the focus of the book. As a result, it likely will not hold your interest if you are not a legal nerd like me.
August 17, 2022
I received this book months ago but I didn’t get a chance to read it until now and let me tell you it was worth the wait! I literally clapped at the end of the book which was narrated by the author. I have both the hard copy and audiobook. This book was so good! In the book the author who is a Black woman retired judge and the first Black woman judge in northern Cali and I think the first Black judge in Santa Clara county (I may have that location wrong). It’s kinda a memoir and in this book she shares not only her experiences from the bench but also discusses related/relevant cases from cases across many levels.
I’m not a law person the closest I get to being a law person and understanding how court works is watching Law and Order, but I learned so much reading this book for which I personally am truly grateful (I still to this day have not been invited to jury duty 😔). The other thing I hoped for was for the author to specifically discuss her experience as a Black woman in that role and I appreciated and loved her honesty and vulnerability. She discusses issues, implications and the impact of not only race, but gender, class, sexuality, culture/ethnicity, and ability. She supports every assertion she makes with qualitative or quantitative data, make no mistake, this ain’t no opt ed., I felt like I was reading a well researched, intelligent, inspiring, and interesting book about the way the law plays out in the real world, and I ate it up! In the end of the book she makes suggestions based on her experiences, knowledge and expertise for how to improve the judicial system, which I found to be not only smart but realistically feasible!
I only give 5 stars to books that deeply affected me to a point where it was life changing and made me reconsider or deepen previous beliefs or values, and this book did that on so many levels. This woman is phenomenal and as a connoisseur of Black history and Black women’s stories, I finished this book thinking how grateful I was that she took the time to write this book and share her story with us. Even when I give a book for stars I’m never like oh I would love to meet that person but that’s all I kept thinking as I read this. Her integrity, character, honesty, empathy, intelligence, tenacity, and innovation came through so strongly in this book and I was enthralled!
Anyways I highly recommend this book, I’m actually surprised it’s not making more noise in the industry!
P. s. Some random things I loved that I couldn’t fit into the review:
- she’s an artist and has drawn political cartoons
- she identifies as a member of the LGBTQ community
- she created an education program where law students got to intern as judges to learn what it’s like on the bench
- she doesn’t play it safe, she talks about the good, bad and the ugly
I’m not a law person the closest I get to being a law person and understanding how court works is watching Law and Order, but I learned so much reading this book for which I personally am truly grateful (I still to this day have not been invited to jury duty 😔). The other thing I hoped for was for the author to specifically discuss her experience as a Black woman in that role and I appreciated and loved her honesty and vulnerability. She discusses issues, implications and the impact of not only race, but gender, class, sexuality, culture/ethnicity, and ability. She supports every assertion she makes with qualitative or quantitative data, make no mistake, this ain’t no opt ed., I felt like I was reading a well researched, intelligent, inspiring, and interesting book about the way the law plays out in the real world, and I ate it up! In the end of the book she makes suggestions based on her experiences, knowledge and expertise for how to improve the judicial system, which I found to be not only smart but realistically feasible!
I only give 5 stars to books that deeply affected me to a point where it was life changing and made me reconsider or deepen previous beliefs or values, and this book did that on so many levels. This woman is phenomenal and as a connoisseur of Black history and Black women’s stories, I finished this book thinking how grateful I was that she took the time to write this book and share her story with us. Even when I give a book for stars I’m never like oh I would love to meet that person but that’s all I kept thinking as I read this. Her integrity, character, honesty, empathy, intelligence, tenacity, and innovation came through so strongly in this book and I was enthralled!
Anyways I highly recommend this book, I’m actually surprised it’s not making more noise in the industry!
P. s. Some random things I loved that I couldn’t fit into the review:
- she’s an artist and has drawn political cartoons
- she identifies as a member of the LGBTQ community
- she created an education program where law students got to intern as judges to learn what it’s like on the bench
- she doesn’t play it safe, she talks about the good, bad and the ugly
November 5, 2021
Judge Cordell was the first Black woman appointed to the Superior Court in Northern CA. This is her story of her life on the bench in various courts. She shines light on what is broken and gives concrete examples of how they could be fixed.
Her stories explain her thought process throughout various types of cases. Her hands were often tied when it came to sentencing, and she had to make decisions based purely on the sentencing requirements when she knew they were not what were fair or just for the defendant.
I enjoyed getting a view of the courtroom from the judge’s bench as it’s not something I’ve read before.
Thank you to Celadon Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Her stories explain her thought process throughout various types of cases. Her hands were often tied when it came to sentencing, and she had to make decisions based purely on the sentencing requirements when she knew they were not what were fair or just for the defendant.
I enjoyed getting a view of the courtroom from the judge’s bench as it’s not something I’ve read before.
Thank you to Celadon Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 27, 2021
An inspiring fascinating look at the American court system Judge Cordell a Stanford graduate and the first African American head of the Santa Clara superior court.She opens the door to presiding over the courtroom and shares her career with us.I would recommend this book for classroom and bookclub discussion.Thank to Celadon for this advance copy.
September 27, 2021
Very insightful and thought provoking book. I leaned a lot about our justice system, what's wrong with it, and how to make it better. Judge Cordell is an amazing woman and writer.
October 20, 2021
In 1982, Governor Jerry Brown named LaDoris Hazzard Cordell to be a judge on the Municipal Bench. Cordell remembers her first ever case. It was a small claims case and the participants were both African American women as was she. The case concerned a claim of nonpayment for service by the plaintiff and the defendant claimed that the service, braids, was done sloppily and didn't deserve payment. Judge Cordell had the women come forward and she checked the integrity of the braids herself. Finding them lacking, she awarded the plaintiff a reduced amount and both women left satisfied.
In 1988, Judge Cordell won election to the Superior Court and served there until 2001, rotating through a variety of assignments. She discusses such topics as juvenile cases, marriage, divorce, custody, adoption and name changes. She discusses juries and their decisions, The judicial election process is discussed along with judicial misconduct and disagreements with rulings, which sometimes rise to the level of attempts to recall judges. She discusses her time with rulings on mental cases, usually middle-aged women petitioning against involuntary confinement, or being forced into shock treatments or drugs with massive side effects. Cordell talks about the three strike rule, it's disportionate effect on minority defendants and the whole plea bargain process which allows the courts to get through their huge caseload but often means innocent people plead guilty. Cordell ends the book with suggestions on how the judicial system can be reformed.
I listened to this book and the narrator was Cordell herself. Her voice was the voice one would think of as a judge's; dispassionate, calm and logical. One of Cordell's main points was the effect that her appointment as a minority woman had on the defendants who were amazed to see her there and given hope that someone like them was overseeing the process. The cases she uses throughout are fascinating and the reader will gain more understanding of the judicial process than they had starting out. This book is recommended for nonfiction readers, those interested in legal procedures and those interested in the story of a strong African American woman.
In 1988, Judge Cordell won election to the Superior Court and served there until 2001, rotating through a variety of assignments. She discusses such topics as juvenile cases, marriage, divorce, custody, adoption and name changes. She discusses juries and their decisions, The judicial election process is discussed along with judicial misconduct and disagreements with rulings, which sometimes rise to the level of attempts to recall judges. She discusses her time with rulings on mental cases, usually middle-aged women petitioning against involuntary confinement, or being forced into shock treatments or drugs with massive side effects. Cordell talks about the three strike rule, it's disportionate effect on minority defendants and the whole plea bargain process which allows the courts to get through their huge caseload but often means innocent people plead guilty. Cordell ends the book with suggestions on how the judicial system can be reformed.
I listened to this book and the narrator was Cordell herself. Her voice was the voice one would think of as a judge's; dispassionate, calm and logical. One of Cordell's main points was the effect that her appointment as a minority woman had on the defendants who were amazed to see her there and given hope that someone like them was overseeing the process. The cases she uses throughout are fascinating and the reader will gain more understanding of the judicial process than they had starting out. This book is recommended for nonfiction readers, those interested in legal procedures and those interested in the story of a strong African American woman.
March 20, 2022
LaDoris Hazzard Cordell was the first Black woman to sit on the Superior Court in California. In Her Honor, she tells of her experiences as a trial judge and examines the things about our judicial system that she feels needs to change. I appreciated her candor in here - she talks about what she thinks she got right and acknowledges where she was wrong. Almost everything I have read about the legal system in the US has been focused on the Supreme Court and constitutional law. In this book, you get a much fuller look at the way the courts handle more "everyday" matters - disputes between individuals, wills, custody and adoption, criminal cases and more. I learned a lot reading this and gained a new appreciation for the work of our judges (and the importance of their roles) and deepened my understanding of the many places where our system was flawed. This is a great read whether you want to just learn more about our judicial system or you want to learn more about a woman who is a leader in her field.
October 5, 2021
Note: I won this book (an uncorrected proof) through a Goodreads giveaway. Being given this book for free does not influence my judgment or opinion in any way.
Oh wow. This was a book I didn't know I needed. I had SO many gaps in my legal knowledge, and Judge Cordell's book filled those gaps. For those of us who know about the law from what we've heard on television, this is a major help!
Judge Cordell's writing voice is so damn down-to-earth, and I loved that. She told stories and shared legal cases and instances with language that a layperson can understand. How appreciated! She never toots her own horn to an extreme, but gives herself credit where credit seems due, and is just as good about admitting when she made wrong choices. She calls out organizations, groups, and people by name (brave!) when she speaks her truth and judgments. She poses that there are problems in the judicial system, and offers solutions. It isn't just a manifesto of complaints. She also points of what works, and why.
I found her to be a very fair, very balanced, very thoughtful thinker. Very head, but with appropriate amounts of heart. I would be honored to meet her some day.
Oh wow. This was a book I didn't know I needed. I had SO many gaps in my legal knowledge, and Judge Cordell's book filled those gaps. For those of us who know about the law from what we've heard on television, this is a major help!
Judge Cordell's writing voice is so damn down-to-earth, and I loved that. She told stories and shared legal cases and instances with language that a layperson can understand. How appreciated! She never toots her own horn to an extreme, but gives herself credit where credit seems due, and is just as good about admitting when she made wrong choices. She calls out organizations, groups, and people by name (brave!) when she speaks her truth and judgments. She poses that there are problems in the judicial system, and offers solutions. It isn't just a manifesto of complaints. She also points of what works, and why.
I found her to be a very fair, very balanced, very thoughtful thinker. Very head, but with appropriate amounts of heart. I would be honored to meet her some day.
February 16, 2022
Now I know a lot more about the nuts and bolts of the judicial system. Not only that, but it was so interesting that I couldn't put the book down. The author was the first African-American judge in California, and a woman at that. She writes with devotion the legal system yet with a keen eye for injustices, racial and otherwise. And there are constant injustices, individual and systemic. I sometimes think the system is so flawed that it would be best to tear it down and start fresh. Since that isn't a practical option, we need more people like her working inside the system. And, like her, writing a book about it.
The book is very well written and organized. Most of the chapters describe a type of court or case, describe how it works and areas that need improvement, and follow one or more examples of cases, mostly ones for which the author was the judge. The cases are interesting and illustrate the way the courts work, as well and the benefits of and problems with the process.
The last chapter, "The Fix," starts with a quote from Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor: "If the system is broken, my inclination is to fix it rather than to fight it." In it, the author gives 10 instances of things that are broken in the judicial system and her ideas on how to fix them. They all make a lot of sense. I hope people in position to change things are paying attention.
When I was two thirds into the book, I was planning to give it five stars. Then I got to the case where she said that a judge should not have been recalled. The recall was due to the high-profile rape case where the rapist was on the Stanford swim team. She characterized the rape as "the two met at a fraternity party where they became highly intoxicated." There was a lot more to it than that, which I won't get into here, and I disagree with her that six months (half of it off for good behavior) was a fair sentence. She says it was in accordance with the law. If so, maybe the recall was a referendum on the law, and maybe that's not how the system is meant to work, but those of us who are not working from inside the system need some recourse. And in fact, the recall vote prompted California to increase the mandatory minimum sentence for rape. This chapter made me wonder what else the author might have ignored or not explained fully.
The book is very well written and organized. Most of the chapters describe a type of court or case, describe how it works and areas that need improvement, and follow one or more examples of cases, mostly ones for which the author was the judge. The cases are interesting and illustrate the way the courts work, as well and the benefits of and problems with the process.
The last chapter, "The Fix," starts with a quote from Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor: "If the system is broken, my inclination is to fix it rather than to fight it." In it, the author gives 10 instances of things that are broken in the judicial system and her ideas on how to fix them. They all make a lot of sense. I hope people in position to change things are paying attention.
When I was two thirds into the book, I was planning to give it five stars. Then I got to the case where she said that a judge should not have been recalled. The recall was due to the high-profile rape case where the rapist was on the Stanford swim team. She characterized the rape as "the two met at a fraternity party where they became highly intoxicated." There was a lot more to it than that, which I won't get into here, and I disagree with her that six months (half of it off for good behavior) was a fair sentence. She says it was in accordance with the law. If so, maybe the recall was a referendum on the law, and maybe that's not how the system is meant to work, but those of us who are not working from inside the system need some recourse. And in fact, the recall vote prompted California to increase the mandatory minimum sentence for rape. This chapter made me wonder what else the author might have ignored or not explained fully.
October 19, 2021
Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell shares her experiences being the first black woman to sit on the Superior Court of Northern California and describes experiences filled with justice, challenge, and a determination to impact the system. This work reminded me of how our court system can be a deeply flawed system, that requires advocacy and change. This work also reminded me that a judge’s discretion is incredibly powerful and consequential, and that there are decisions made in court that feel incredibly unjust and heartbreaking particularly surrounding three strike laws, custody decisions, and cases involving problematic plea deals. I received an arc of this work to provide my honest thoughts. I would recommend this work.
October 29, 2021
My main takeaway: anyone interested in going to law school should read this. Loved the candid account from an inspiring (retired) trial court judge out of Northern California. Full of compelling real life reflections & stories told in a direct and confident voice. At times, a few chapters ran long with extensive retelling. Was so refreshing to read a judicial writing rooted in vulnerable & raw insight of the communities served with three dimensional commentary and a wide range of areas of law (family, adoptions, criminal, estate planning) in the context of advancing justice. Grateful for the opportunity to read something that makes me proud to be in the legal profession. Thank you Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell!
October 8, 2021
I absolutely love memoirs and this one is definitely one to remember!
I work with judges and attorneys everyday, but the judges are kind of "untouchable" where I work so it is so refreshing to hear things from a real judge's perspective. Thoroughly enjoyed. Thank you Celadon Books ❤
I work with judges and attorneys everyday, but the judges are kind of "untouchable" where I work so it is so refreshing to hear things from a real judge's perspective. Thoroughly enjoyed. Thank you Celadon Books ❤
March 20, 2022
This is a must read, it is very well written, I mean I wouldn’t expect less from a judge, but it flowed well and I loved the insights into what is required of a judge as we do not always get that perspective. Judge Cordell has a writing style that kept me engaged, she is both witty and a little bit snarky when she needs to be, which immediately drew me to her. This was educational, important, eye opening, and also entertaining in some parts. That’s about all I can say as her amazing story speaks for itself. This is an incredibly important read that you don’t want to miss.
Thank you to Celadon Books for the ARC to review, this one is available now.
Thank you to Celadon Books for the ARC to review, this one is available now.
November 20, 2021
Now more than ever, we need Judge Cordell and others like her. Legal professionals who advocate for the underserved and unheard. This book is a fascinating read, even for the laypeople. I was fortunate to have hosted Judge Cordell in my own home for a family ceremony once upon a time (a marriage unfortunately now long ended - of course not Her Honor’s fault!) and was struck way back then by her quiet dignity and obvious integrity. Wish more lawyers-turned-judges were this way. And she has only become more impressive. I’ve been a fan ever since then and am now delighted to have access to her brilliant life work in book form. So worth reading and sharing. Grateful to share the universe with her.
October 5, 2021
Bravo to LaDoris Hazzard Cordell on her new memoir Her Honor: My Life on the Bench…What Works, What’s Broken and How to Change It. A big Thank you to partner Celadon Books for the advanced copy. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. An incredibly thought-provoking memoir, that is brilliantly written with heartfelt empathy and truthfulness. A book that provides amazing insight into a variety of real cases and difficult challenges that the author faced during her time on the bench as the first African American woman to sit on the Superior Court of Northern California. In her book Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell not only shows that our court system is highly flawed, but she imparts feasible solutions and shows that there is a path forward to bring about the necessary change that is needed. I highly recommend you add this excellent memoir to your reading list.
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Book Synopsis: 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.
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Book Synopsis: 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.
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