“A Judge’s Stories: Family Case Scenarios” by Judge Harold U. Johnson offers real-life stories from his 20 years as a Family Division Judge. It simplifies complex legal lessons through engaging scenarios, focusing on family law challenges and the human impact of judicial decisions.
Judge Harold U. Johnson served for twenty years as a Judge of the Family Division of New Jersey Superior Court. For the last seven years of his judgeship Hal served as the Presiding Family Judge of three New Jersey Counties, overseeing all the Family judges serving there. He taught those judges and Family judges throughout the State of New Jersey. In New Jersey a new judge receives significant training in the case type to which they are originally assigned, sitting for weeks observing other judges experienced in the case type. They also are required to attend mandatory, intense two-week classroom training in their case type as to handling cases, this course is called “Judicial Orientation” or with tongue in cheek, “Baby Judge’s School.”
Harold U, “Hal” Johnson, Jr., was born in Southern New Jersey; a remote part of New Jersey that still lives up to and deserves the moniker of the “garden part” of the Garden State. Hal attended Rowan University of South Jersey and transferred to the University of North Carolina Wilmington, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. He then attended and graduated Delaware Law School of Widener University with a Juris Doctorate degree. For the next 18 years Hal practiced law in South Jersey, earning the recognition of the New Jersey Supreme Court as a Certified Civil and Certified Matrimonial Trial Attorney. In the summer of 2002 Hal was appointed a judge of the New Jersey Superior Court. …
Overview: Dive into the power of storytelling in education and decision-making, as demonstrated by Judge Johnson’s book. Highlight how his scenarios offer timeless lessons for judges, lawyers, and even laypeople navigating family issues. Key Points: How storytelling improves understanding and retention. Examples from the book that illustrate real-world applications. How these lessons can apply outside […]
Overview: Focus on the emotional depth of the cases shared in the book and how they reflect the human impact of family law. Discuss how Judge Johnson’s approach to teaching through “war stories” makes the legal process less intimidating and more accessible to readers. Key Points: The emotional stakes in family law cases. Why personal […]
Overview: Explore the critical lessons Judge Harold U. Johnson shares in his book. Highlight how his real-life scenarios provide unique insights into the challenges judges face in family law, such as balancing justice with compassion and handling complex cases like custody battles and domestic violence. Key Points: How storytelling makes legal concepts relatable. The importance […]