Part One. Judges. Who's the judge?
The prosecutor's perspective
The decision-making ideal
Part Two. In chambers. The trial judge: birth, aborted : State v. Monica Migliorino Miller
The appellate judge: birth, premature : Peterman v. Midwestern National Insurance Company, Special Products, Inc., Frank A. Busalacchi, and Visuals Plus, Inc.
Standard of review: casting the legal drama
The trial judge: life, and a lost teenager : In the interest of S.W., a child under eighteen years of age
The appellate judge: life, and a sex predator : State v. Shawn Schulpius
The trial judge: death, and a cherished child : State v. Anthony C. McClain
The appellate judge: death, and three widows : Wischer v. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of America, Inc.
The trial judge: religion, and white supremacists : State v. Hollin Lange and Patrick O'Malley
The appellate judge: politics, "out on the point" : State v. L.C. Clay
Indigestion: food, mood, and more
Part Three. Vanishing independence. Judicial campaigns: declarations and contributions
Begging the question: elective or appointive
Afterword: fathers and grandfathers.