IN SERVICE TO JUSTICE

Davis, a longtime civil servant, reflects on his life in this memoir.

In his nonfiction debut, the author tells his own story from his childhood in Hazard, Kentucky, to his Christian upbringing, his time in the Peace Corps, his marriage, his completion of law school, and his introduction both to the California Judicial Council and to a lifelong career in judicial administration. In each section of his book, he includes a chapter outlining the ongoing development of his Baha’i faith, starting with his conversion in 1974 only weeks after reading The Book of Certitude by Baha’u’llah and initially being struck by one of its central assertions: “It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world. The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens.” Time and again in his work with various judicial systems all over the world, he felt the truth of this assertion: “My international experiences have taught me that we live in an integrated world, a world where we are connected at many levels,” he writes. Readers follow his career as it takes him from a position as director of the administration of courts in California to head of a consulting firm undertaking missions in Pakistan, Jordan, Latin America, and elsewhere, where he was continually learning about the judicial, political, and cultural challenges of each country.

Thanks to the sheer breadth of Davis’ experiences in his career, readers are taken into many different cultures and legal systems, in which the author notes differences and similarities. In Pakistan, for instance, Davis noticed that, at a gathering, some lower court and High Court judges would barely greet one another because they were from different tribes. When he watched judges in Jordan, while advising the Judicial Council, he also saw a lack of collegiality: “Judges usually exhibit a degree of stiffness and reticence when they sit in a room with one another,” he recalls. “I can see the hidden pecking order, latent hostilities, constant jockeying for position, extreme caution by some, and a degree of solemnity.” But the main strength of his book is its unwavering humanity and decency. In every chapter, regardless of the adventure he’s having, Davis is always a quiet, observant, and respectful presence. His optimistic view of humanity permeates every page, particularly when he’s confronting the inertia or indifference of the official world, where the reflexive stance is often “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”; he expresses a clear belief that it’s possible to make any institution better. He helpfully distills much of the wisdom he’s accumulated in the “On Reflection” sections. When summarizing the characteristics that reflect institutional integrity in an organizational culture, for instance, he lists, “A management style that encourages participation, flexibility, teamwork, problem solving, and equity,” and a “sense of mission for employees.” However, the author’s overarching philosophy makes the strongest impression, rather than individual bits of wisdom.

An appealingly humble and direct account of the adventures of a judicial bridge-builder.