‘Tough Cases’ Ed. by Russell F. Canan, Gregory E. Mize and Frederick H. Weisberg The New Press, New York, N.Y., 2018 280 pages, $26.99
The question of what goes into a judge’s thinking when rendering decisions is one of the most important, and rarely illuminated, secrets in our judicial system. We ourselves have interviewed judges, and one teaches about what goes into a judge’s thinking when deciding cases—the inside baseball if you will. It is not often easy to get judges to discuss their process, influences and thoughts. By providing this collection of 13 essays from, mostly, state court judges across the country, the editors—all judges themselves—have helped lift that shroud of mystery. The collection is an imperative for any litigating attorney, and helps put the work of judging in perspective for anyone who may find themselves embroiled in our legal system.
