Judge James Shapiro’s Motivation to Become a Judge

As we go through our lives there are many people whom we encounter.  Those encounters and conversations with others often mold us into the people we become, and steer us in the decisions that we make both personally and professionally.  One of those “special moments in my life” was a conversation I had a number of years ago as I volunteered in the Iowa Caucuses.  As I went door to door, eagerly trying to drum up support for my candidate, I ran into this very nice lady, a “real Midwesterner,” who opens the door and intently listens to my speech.  When I finish, she asks me, “Son, do you have any political ambitions yourself?”  Sheepishly I reply, “Well ma’am, perhaps one day I will be a judge or something like that.”  With all the sincerity that only a Midwesterner could muster, she looks me straight in the eye and says, almost pleadingly, “Well if you do, PLEASE promise to be a good one!  Promise to be a judge that makes a difference in the world, a judge who really cares about people!”  That very nice lady was a total stranger to me, but the earnestness with which she spoke made it seem as though I had known her for years.  Now, over 20 years later, I have never forgotten what she said as the episode plays over and over again in my mind like a film loop.  From the moment I met her, I made a promise to never let her down, nor the people in my subcircuit and those who appear in front of me.  For in doing so, I would let myself down as well.  I never wanted to be a judge “just for the sake of being a judge.”  I want to be a good judge, a judge who upholds the laws of this great city and country we live in, and for the people of my subcircuit.  I would like to thank the very nice lady who made a difference in my life many years ago when I was a volunteer, and to you, the people of my subcircuit, thank you as well for your support.  I promise to not let you down!