Celebrating Women in the Judiciary

The below review of Her Honor: Stories of Challenge and Triumph from Women Judges, Lauren Stiller Rikleen, ed. (American Bar Association, 2023) was published as part of Femi Cadmus, Nicholas Mignanelli & Ariel Scotese "Exemplary Legal Writing 2023 Books Five Recommendations," 2024 Green Bag Almanac and Reader 74, 75 (2024) (available at the library).

Her Honor: Stories of Challenge and Triumph from Women Judges is an excellent tribute to progress within the judiciary while acknowledging the work that remains to create a judiciary (and legal landscape) free from biases. Her Honor is an anthology of stories about women judges who received the prestigious Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award from the American Bar Association’s Commission on Women in the Profession. The book features a wide range of judges, from Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor to administrative law judges, who all left an enduring impact on their communities. The stories, told either by the judges themselves or colleagues who were close to them, delves into these judges’ trials and triumphs, providing readers with an intimate look at their professional journeys. The stories often include painful anecdotes of blatant discrimination and moments when these women faced seemingly impossible choices. At the same time, woven into the fabric of these stories is a thread of resilience and determination. Despite facing formidable challenges, they not only overcame adversity but also found inspiration within their struggles to mentor the next generation of lawyers. Her Honor leaves readers with a profound sense of hope. It serves as a poignant reminder that society has the capacity to learn from the past and evolve positively. In celebrating the achievements of these women judges, Her Honor honors their individual legacies while adding to the larger conversation about the need to break down barriers and build a legal system that embodies the principles of equality and fairness.

If you are interested in learning about another incredible recipient of the ABA's Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award, please see our news post about the remarkable Patsy Mink.