CHICAGO, Feb. 15, 2023 — A new book from the American Bar Association, “Her Honor: Stories of Challenge and Triumph from Women Judges” is a collection of personal stories by and about some of the most revered and influential judges in the United States, providing a unique and deeply instructive glimpse into our justice system.
The 25 judges featured in “Her Honor” are from all levels of the state and federal courts, including chief judges and two Supreme Court justices. Their moving stories will be all too recognizable to women experiencing similar challenges and biases in their own careers.
“Her Honor” also demonstrates how the best of our judges share a passion for ensuring an accessible and fair system of justice, without a political agenda. They reveal a deep compassion for humanity along with an abiding respect for the law, respecting precedent but acting with courage if the law offers a way forward.
About the editor:
Lauren Stiller Rikleen, president of the Rikleen Institute for Strategic Leadership, is a nationally known speaker, trainer, author and consultant focused on building a diverse, respectful and inclusive workplace culture. She is also a board member and interim executive director of Lawyers Defending American Democracy, an organization devoted to the protection of democracy and the rule of law.
Rikleen is a former law firm equity partner and founder of the firm’s environmental law practice. For 20 years, she was recognized in Best Lawyers in America; she was also recognized in Chambers USA America’s Leading Business Lawyers and in Massachusetts Super Lawyers.
Rikleen’s extensive background of community and professional leadership includes serving as a former president of the Boston Bar Association and a former trustee of Clark University. Within the American Bar Association, she co-chairs the ABA Women’s Caucus and is a member of the Standing Committee on Publishing Oversight. Among her many past ABA leadership roles, Rikleen is a former member of the Board of Governors, the Commission on Women in the Profession and the ABA Journal Board of Editors. She is also a former chair of the Section of Civil Rights & Social Justice.
Title: “Her Honor: Stories of Challenge and Triumph from Women Judges”
Publisher: ABA Book Publishing
Pages: 336
Product Code: 5230308
ISBN: 9781639052400
Size: 6 x 9 inches
Binding: Softcover
Price: $24.95
Orders: https://www.americanbar.org/products/inv/book/427582689/
What prominent lawyers are saying about “Her Honor”. . .
“This is one of the most inspirational books I have ever read. The essays, by and about 25 inspirational women judges, are beautifully written and compelling accounts of lives filled with amazing accomplishments. They are stories of women who overcame great obstacles ─ sexism and racism and antisemitism and homophobia and poverty and so much else ─ to rise to the top of the legal profession and make a huge difference. I want all law students and lawyers to read it, and for that matter, all high school and college students who might be thinking of a career in the law.”
— Erwin Chemerinsky, dean and Jesse H. Choper Distinguished Professor of Law, University of California, Berkeley School of Law
“I wish I had a book like this ─ full of the wisdom and testimony, trials and triumphs of brilliant and accomplished women jurists ─ when I was a young law student who still didn’t fully understand the barriers I’d face as a young, Black woman in the legal profession and beyond. Their stories of grace and tenacity in the face of obstacles are beyond inspiring. And their focus on mentorship is so important. Their lived stories shake the ground and pave the way for all of us.”
— Kimberly Atkins Stohr, senior opinion writer and columnist, The Boston Globe; inaugural columnist, The Emancipator
“When women commit, we are all better for it. And the commitment of women in the legal arena, especially on the bench, is essential. This book shares the challenging, compelling and very human stories of some of the country’s most respected female judges and leaves us not just with a sense of the importance of their work but also of the importance of ensuring another generation of women follows in their footsteps. I loved learning more about these women and could have kept on reading more!”
— Joyce White Vance, Distinguished Professor of the Practice of Law, University of Alabama School of Law and legal analyst for NBC and MSNBC
“Her Honor is a breathtaking collection of the stories of pioneering women judges who made the nation’s courts look more like the nation they serve. Their stories are at once humbling for the obstacles they fought and inspiring for their determination and dedication to the rule of law.”
— Steve Wermiel, American University Washington College of Law, co-author, Justice Brennan: Liberal Champion
Editor’s note: If you would like a review copy or to schedule an interview with the author, please contact Jeffrey Salyards at [email protected]. If you publish a review of this book, please send tear sheets or a copy for our files to Jeffrey Salyards, ABA Publishing, 321 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60654.
The ABA is the largest voluntary association of lawyers in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.