Tough cases Judges tell the stories of some of the hardest decisions they've ever made

U.S. Supreme Court justices overshadow the work of trial court judges at the Federal and state level. The editors of this volume, three judges for the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, bring together 13 case studies by current and retired elected and appointed judges to highlight the serious work done in the lower courts. Each of the cases is fascinating and several reflect the professional character of the judges. One of the most impressive case studies is by Judge George W. Greer who presided in the Terri Schiavo "right to die" case in Florida in 2000. Even readers who followed the media accounts of this case will come away with a deeper understanding of the complex issues at play. Similarly, Judge Jennifer D. Bailey presided over the equally publicized contested custody case of the young boy on a raft from Cuba, Elian Gonzales. There are also lesser-known but equally compelling stories, such as that of Judge Robert H. Alsdorf who stood up to intense public pressure by enforcing a law that overruled the votes of nearly a million people. VERDICT A unique and hard-to-put-down title for anyone interested in America's judicial system. Highly recommended for all libraries.-William D. Pederson, Louisiana State Univ., Shreveport © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.