The Third Circuit has launched a new website aimed at enlivening the court’s rich history. It provides an engaging look at the individual stories of judges who have served, helping the public better understand the personal journeys behind their legal careers. Judge A. Leon Higginbotham Jr., for instance, initially built his reputation in personal injury law before his tenure on the federal bench. In a 1996 interview, he reminisced about a notable $15,000 jury verdict for a child injured by a driver near a playground (National Law Journal).
“People view the courts as this establishment, but when you listen to oral histories it’s really about individual people coming together to make this happen,” noted Melissa Bernstein, librarian for the Third Circuit. “The character of the court changes every time there’s a new judge who comes on.”