Tough Cases: Judges Tell the Stories of Some of the Hardest Decisions They've Ever Made
Behind every courtroom trial is a judge tasked with making a life-altering decision—this is their “engaging and bracingly honest” (National Catholic Reporter) side of the story

Prosecutors and defense attorneys have it easy—all they have to do is to present the evidence and make arguments. It’s the judges who have the heavy lift: they are the ones who have to make the ultimate decisions, many of which have profound consequences on the lives of the people standing in front of them. In Tough Cases, called “powerful collection of inside information about some of the most interesting and high-profile cases of our times” by former prosecutor Paul Butler, a remarkable group of judges—from family court to tribal court to the federal bench—pull back the curtain on the most challenging cases of their careers, sharing what it means to bear the weight of justice in cases that shape lives and ignite national debate.

These “hard-to-put-down” (starred Library Journal) narratives include landmark rulings such as the Elián González custody case, the emotionally charged Terri Schiavo right-to-die battle, and the prosecution of Scooter Libby. Others unfold far from the public eye but are no less consequential: a tribal court judge navigating cultural tensions, a newly appointed jurist grappling with identity and authority, and a chilling case involving a mother who killed her own children.

Relatively few judges have publicly shared the thought processes behind their decision making. Tough Cases makes for “unprecedented” (Greta van Sustren) reading for everyone from armchair attorneys and fans of Law and Order to those actively involved in the legal profession who want insight into the people judging their work.

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Tough Cases: Judges Tell the Stories of Some of the Hardest Decisions They've Ever Made
Behind every courtroom trial is a judge tasked with making a life-altering decision—this is their “engaging and bracingly honest” (National Catholic Reporter) side of the story

Prosecutors and defense attorneys have it easy—all they have to do is to present the evidence and make arguments. It’s the judges who have the heavy lift: they are the ones who have to make the ultimate decisions, many of which have profound consequences on the lives of the people standing in front of them. In Tough Cases, called “powerful collection of inside information about some of the most interesting and high-profile cases of our times” by former prosecutor Paul Butler, a remarkable group of judges—from family court to tribal court to the federal bench—pull back the curtain on the most challenging cases of their careers, sharing what it means to bear the weight of justice in cases that shape lives and ignite national debate.

These “hard-to-put-down” (starred Library Journal) narratives include landmark rulings such as the Elián González custody case, the emotionally charged Terri Schiavo right-to-die battle, and the prosecution of Scooter Libby. Others unfold far from the public eye but are no less consequential: a tribal court judge navigating cultural tensions, a newly appointed jurist grappling with identity and authority, and a chilling case involving a mother who killed her own children.

Relatively few judges have publicly shared the thought processes behind their decision making. Tough Cases makes for “unprecedented” (Greta van Sustren) reading for everyone from armchair attorneys and fans of Law and Order to those actively involved in the legal profession who want insight into the people judging their work.

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Tough Cases: Judges Tell the Stories of Some of the Hardest Decisions They've Ever Made

Tough Cases: Judges Tell the Stories of Some of the Hardest Decisions They've Ever Made

Tough Cases: Judges Tell the Stories of Some of the Hardest Decisions They've Ever Made

Tough Cases: Judges Tell the Stories of Some of the Hardest Decisions They've Ever Made

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Overview

Behind every courtroom trial is a judge tasked with making a life-altering decision—this is their “engaging and bracingly honest” (National Catholic Reporter) side of the story

Prosecutors and defense attorneys have it easy—all they have to do is to present the evidence and make arguments. It’s the judges who have the heavy lift: they are the ones who have to make the ultimate decisions, many of which have profound consequences on the lives of the people standing in front of them. In Tough Cases, called “powerful collection of inside information about some of the most interesting and high-profile cases of our times” by former prosecutor Paul Butler, a remarkable group of judges—from family court to tribal court to the federal bench—pull back the curtain on the most challenging cases of their careers, sharing what it means to bear the weight of justice in cases that shape lives and ignite national debate.

These “hard-to-put-down” (starred Library Journal) narratives include landmark rulings such as the Elián González custody case, the emotionally charged Terri Schiavo right-to-die battle, and the prosecution of Scooter Libby. Others unfold far from the public eye but are no less consequential: a tribal court judge navigating cultural tensions, a newly appointed jurist grappling with identity and authority, and a chilling case involving a mother who killed her own children.

Relatively few judges have publicly shared the thought processes behind their decision making. Tough Cases makes for “unprecedented” (Greta van Sustren) reading for everyone from armchair attorneys and fans of Law and Order to those actively involved in the legal profession who want insight into the people judging their work.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9798893850284
Publisher: New Press, The
Publication date: 06/09/2026
Pages: 288
Product dimensions: 5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Russell F. Canan is currently a judge on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and an adjunct professor at the George Washington UniversitySchool of Law. He lives in Washington, DC.  Gregory E. Mize is currently a judge on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and is an adjunct professor at the Georgetown UniversityLaw Center. He lives in Washington, DC.

Frederick H. Weisberg is currently a judge on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and teaches annually in the Trial Advocacy Workshop at Harvard Law School. He lives in Washington, DC.

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