Review: Called to Justice: The Life of a Federal Trial Judge (by Warren K. Urbom)

Abstract

This review examimes the Honorable Warren K. Urbom's memoir, Called to Justice: The Life of a Federal Trial Judge (Univ. Neb. Press 2012).Judge Urbom recounts his evolution from a rural Nebraska farm boy to a respected and distinguished federal judge, who presided over numers notable trials, including the criminal prosecutions that arose from the American Indian Movement occupation of the vilalge of Wounded Knee on the Pine Ridge Reservation in 1973. This Review offers thoughts on what this candid reflection from a judge struggling, at times, to do justice in a complext world, can teach us about the legal system more broadly. Judge Urbom reflects, ultimately, now not only how a thoughtful judge can impact the parties that come before the court but, also, how an experience on the bench can change the person wearing the robe.

Keywords: book review, federal court judge, memoir