DorothyWrightNelsonwasaprominentfederaljudgeontheleveljustbelowtheU.S.SupremeCourtforover40years.OneoftheearlytenuredfemalelawprofessorsandoneoftherarefemaledeansintheU.S.legalacademyinthe1960sand’70s,herexpertisewasinreformingcourtstomakethemmorejustandaccessibleforallpeople.Whenshebecameafederaljudgein1980,shehelpedtomakethefederalcourtsmoreefficientandprovidelitigantswithalternatives-includingmediationandarbitration-toresolvecaseswithoutgreaterexpenseanddelay.Anardentbelieverinmorepeacefulresolutionofconflicts,JudgeNelsoneducatedjudgesaroundtheworldonconflictresolutionandtheruleoflaw,oftenwhileengagingquietlyinhumanrightsadvocacyforpersecutedBah獺’穩saroundtheglobe.HerBah獺’穩faithalsoinspiredherjudicialopinionsprovidingmoreequalityanddueprocessforthemarginalized,includingthepoor,racialminorities,immigrants,mentallyillandthepowerless.Dorothyandherhusband,astatecourtjudge,balancedtheirprofessionalachievementswiththeirpersonalcommitmentsinamannerunusualfortheirtime.Theydevotedconsiderableenergytoraisingtheirtwochildren,spendingtimewiththeirextendedfamily,andengaginginBah獺’穩activities(includingworldtravel,youthcamps,weeklySundaySchooland“firesides“intheirhome).Thisbookcapturesthelifestoryofanextraordinaryfemaleleaderandtrailblazerinahighlytraditional,male-dominatedprofession,unafraidtochallengethestatusquoinherpleasant,optimistic,determinedandcollegialmanner.
