Local Author Jacqueline St. Joan, author of Your Verdict

Your Verdict: A Judge’s Reckoning With Law and Loss by Jacqueline St. Joan is not only a cinematic and compelling memoir but a look behind the bench of a Denver judge. The usage of epigraphs as an expressive tool bridges the gap between the law and the human condition. St. Joan exceptionally uses these literary snapshots to set a sincere tone for her journey. From the poignant opening lines by Olga Broumas, “like amnesiacs in a ward on fire, we must find words or burn”, to the inclusion of Matthew 7:1, “Judge not, lest you be judged,” serves as a powerful, optimistic reminder of the humility and “moral intelligence” required in the pursuit of justice. Each epigraph acts as a moral compass.