THE JUDGE
My Grandmother, Southwick's side of the family, was, very very distinguished, and accomplished, with, a father as a judge, several brothers who were judges, and a brother who was an FBI agent, she was a dean of women, and also, an English professor. I would not say, that I was, born with a silver spoon in my mouth, but, I was blessed to come from a long line of, very prominent, and professional people. Uncle Sherm was one of those family members, I learned to love and appreciate, and hopefully, got, some of my ideas of the character and nature of what a judge is like. While the only memory I have of my great-grandfather, THE JUDGE, is of him at a Christmas party, when, I was, about 6 years old, he took his cane, being very old, and hunched over, pointed that stick in my face, and said, You got those blue eyes from me! That is my total recollection of the man. I believe that I got a hell of a lot more, from, my great-grandpa, and his children, a love and passion for the law!
HARD CORE, INTEGRITY!
I was, the only, Christensen, grand-child, as far as I know, who was, asked to sit in on, a small, family scholarship, that was given each year, at Brigham Young University, J. Reuben Clark Law School, even before, I was, either a law student or an attorney. The first several times, I went, I just sat back and watched, the children, of Sherman A, Christensen, great-grandpa, interview, 12 or so, candidates, for the very prestigious, but small, scholarship, with, like I said, judges, professors, FBI agents, and attorneys, doing the hard work. One year, my grandmother called me, and said, none of her siblings or their spouses, could make it to, the interviews, and would I accompany her, and participate, in the process . . . WHAT? It was, that, day, that, I came to the attention of several law professors, who were well familiar with the family, the skills and talent, that, led, to me, after having a dream one night, being, what is unheard of, getting accepted to law school, in about two hours, without, applying, nor with having taken the LSAT, or, having letters of recommendations! TRUST YOUR DREAMS AND THE TIMING!
I believe, if memory serves, I believe I was still in law school, when, Uncle Sherm, retired from the federal bench, and I was able to get more acquainted with that great man! The Judge, took an interest in me, now, with a common, love for the law . . . I found out from several of my professors, that my great Uncle, was, checking up on my grades and progress, while in law school. Uncle Sherm, moved, from Eagle Gate Apartments in Salt Lake City, Utah, where, I visited him, a few times, and enjoyed his stories, of his victories and defeats, as an attorney, a judge, and later, a federal district court judge. His walls were hung with, pictures of him, and his, beloved wife, Lois, with Presidents, Supreme Court Justices, and, Members of Congress! At one point, I was invited, to a cousin's dinner, with, that generation of Christensen's, again, two removed, from this group of amazing people, so very honored. Uncle Sherm was at the head of the table, as the oldest brother, of the crew, and he started to go on, talking about me and his time with me, always, so gracious . . . that pissed my grandmother off, and she, stood up, slammed her hands on the table, and in a rather loud voice, said, She's MY grand-daughter, Sherm! I was flattered to say the least.
HIS BOOK OF POETRY THAT HE WITHDREW FROM SALE, FROM PUBLISHER, DESERET BOOK!
One time, when, I visited, the JUDGE, he had boxes of books, on his gorgeous apartment, that were filled with recently published, poetry, the Judge had written over the years. I asked him, why, he had all these books on his floor? He told me, that, Lois, had, written, a story for the Reader's Digest, and, at one point, she had been questioned by, the Digest, of, having taken, some, line or something, for her story, from someone else. The magazine, later, put out, an apology, small, just a paragraph, in their next Reader's Digest, monthly, issue, and, both Lois and Sherm were mortified! So, around that same time, when, Uncle Sherm's collection of poetry, finally, got printed, after years of compilation, and collection, then, printed, and ready or I believe it was even in the book stores, already, in fear, that he had, taken or borrowed, or picked up a line, from someone or somewhere, he actually, purchased, ALL THE BOOKS RIGHT OFF THE SHELVES AND IN STOCK! What?
I was an undergraduate English major, and I was, so shocked, mad, because the quality of the poetry was amazing and from a judge? Come on, Uncle Sherm, you have to sell these, and let people, know your thoughts as a judge and man, of letter and stature! He was so, sad and shaken, by his wife's experience, that he, refused, and I was furious, and did all I could to get him, to go give those back to the Deseret Book Store, and others, who carried the book, and let people, know your mind and see, into the mind of a judge! I don't think, I ever convinced him, but, hopefully, his children, after he died, did, allow that fine book of poetry, to be available for the public to read, and glean, some insights, into, the life, love, and law, as this good, great, and gracious man experienced it! I was heart broken, but he would not budge!
THE EPITOME OF AN IMPARTIAL JUDGE . . . HE OVERTURNED HIS OWN, LOWER COURT DECISION, WHEN, HE GOT MORE FACTS, AND THE CASE, WAS ARGUED, BY DIFFERENT ATTORNEYS, WHO KNEW MORE AND WERE EXPERTS IN THE FIELD! HE WAS EXTREMELY PROUD, OF THAT, AND HELD THAT, AS A STAR ON HIS JUDICIAL SERVICE!
THAT IS WHAT A GOOD JUDGE LOOKS LIKE!
KISSES. HUGS. LOVES. SOB.
I HOPE IN SOME SMALL WAY, I HAVE MADE THIS MAN PROUD! GRANDMA AND GREAT-GRANDPA TOO
THE REPUBLICAN RAPE VICTIM!
I have to get off the computer, sharing time, as Sophia's Place . . . but, I was talking over dinner with a resident of, Hammond House, Shelter for Women, in Greenwood, Washington. She told me she was from, Arkansas, did she know, the Clinton's? Yes, she liked Bill, but didn't like Hillary, much, to professional and seemed stuck up. Then, I asked her if, she had kids, having just, introduced me to, her lesbian lover, on the bus, to Greenwood . . . yes. How old? Five. Is the child with daddy? No, a cousin. Where is dad? I HOPE HE IS BURNING IN HELL! WOW. Not the reaction I was expecting. WHY? BECAUSE I WAS A VICTIM OF RAPE. WHY DIDN'T YOU GET AN ABORTION? I WOULD HAVE . . . I DON'T BELIEVE IN IT! OH. WAS IT A STRANGER RAPE? NO, HE WAS ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS! SHIT? WAS HE DRINKING? SHE JUST SHOOK HER HEAD, END OF SUBJECT . . . I HOPE HE BURNS IN HELL!
IF I NEED TO BE MORE SENSITIVE TO RAPE VICTIMS, WHAT DO MEN NEED?
Living at Hammond House, is, to me, kind of like a college dorm. I leave early, have money, and, either watch TV or read, rarely mix it up much. However, me and my roommie, have known each other for, about a year and a half, since I have been kicking around, Seattle, so we are somewhat, close. One night, we started talking about men, stories, and somehow, I started to tell her, about, an attempted rape, while I was in college, as a freshman. I didn't think anyone else was listening, but soon, staff, came rushing in and told me I COULD NOT TELL THAT STORY, BECAUSE THERE ARE TOO MANY VICTIMS OF RAPE IN THIS PLACE! I was shocked, and, learned to be more sensitive, even as a woman, who had not experienced rape, learning that many of the women, had been raped, and most of them were NOT OVER IT, and, were still dealing with their issues! OH?
They have hired a few male staff, specifically, to introduce, men, into some of these women's lives, and it is going over hard, for, many of the women, in there, even though the men, are trained, to be sensitive, and, totally aware of the issues! It is a long and hard road, back for these women, to ever trust men, again, and not see them as their enemies. I have had, to learn, almost through, experience, as to what rape might entail. A year, ago, I had a bit, rough, sex with someone, I have known for years, and love, and he loves me . . . he was just a bit, rambunctious, more than normal and the sex, lasted, longer, then, normal, in more positions, and, when, I couldn't walk for two weeks, thought, that, he broke my old plumbing, I started to understand and look at RAPE, in a whole new light!
I am sure that, this was even holding back what he could do! He is, slighter built, and I am solid, so, what about someone, half my size? What about, the use of his full power, or rage, or, control? We need to be patient, and, talk, train, teach, and learn, what, these women, have been through!