The League of Women Voters of Stanislaus County presents its monthly Book Club, featuring titles that educate us on democracy, the political system, the Constitution, and other topics connected to our work at League of Women Voters.
The inaugural meeting is Wednesday, January 21 from 11 – 1 at the Nick Blom Salida Regional Library. Join us to expand our understanding of our 250 year-old experiment called Democracy through reading and discussion. Bring a brown bag lunch.
The League of Women Voters of Stanislaus County (LWVSC) is delighted to welcome Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell as its guest for the inaugural meeting of its new Book Club program. The program will take place at 11 a.m. Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at the Nick Blom Salida Regional Library; the event is free and open to the public. Judge Cordell will join the meeting by video conference to discuss her book, Her Honor (2021), in which she provides a rare and thought-provoking insider account of our legal system, sharing vivid stories of the cases that came through her courtroom and revealing the strengths, flaws, and much-needed changes within our courts.
“I am thrilled to be a part of the League’s first Book Club program,” said Judge Cordell. “The more we as citizens understand how our judicial system actually works – or doesn’t work – the more we can effect positive change.” Judge Cordell will also share her experiences in writing “Her Honor,” from finding an agent and publisher through the writing and editing process.
LWVSC President Amy Wolfe said, “The book club format gives us the opportunity to expand our understanding of our 250-year-old experiment called Democracy through the reading of books.” Wolfe continues, “Our goal is to engage with others in meaningful dialogue and to think more deeply about our political system and our role in it.” In 2025, the national League of Women Voters published its position on the Federal Judiciary (https://my.lwv.org/delaware/article/lwvus-announces-position-federal-judiciary) so the selection of “Her Honor” is a natural choice.
Judge Cordell, the first African American woman state court judge in Northern California, knows firsthand how prejudice has permeated our legal system. And yet, she believes in the system. From ending school segregation to legalizing same-sex marriage, its progress relies on legal professionals and jurors who strive to make the imperfect system as fair as possible.
Cordell retired from the bench in 2021. An accomplished musician, she has since founded the African American Composer Initiative which promotes music by AfricanAmerican composers and performers. aacinitiative.org
While the program is free, participants are asked to register to attend at https://forms.gle/SojiebWtczpNe2di7R or contact Denise Nordell at 209-840-8825.
See more information about upcoming book club gatherings and othger events in our Calendar.
