Join San Mateo County Libraries as we welcome retired Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell to our East Palo Alto Library and Atherton Library for a live discussion and reading of her book, Her Honor. Appointed the first African American woman judge in Northern California, Judge Cordell's accomplishments are extensive. We invite you to come and listen to her talk about her previous court cases and the importance of judicial advocacy. As Judge Cordell states in her book trailer on YouTube, "an informed citizenry is an empowered citizenry.”
Author Event With Retired Judge LaDoris Cordell, Author of Her Honor
Our East Palo Alto Library and Atherton Library will each host an author event with Retired Judge LaDoris Cordell. Join us for a live reading and discussion of Retired Judge LaDoris Cordell's book, Her Honor.
Monday, September 11 at 1:00 PM at Atherton Library
Friday, September 15 at 11:00 AM at East Palo Alto Library
Get to Know Judge Cordell
Graduating from Stanford Law School in 1974, LaDoris H. Cordell was the first lawyer to open a private practice in East Palo Alto. After being appointed Assistant Dean of Student Affairs at Stanford Law School in 1978, she continued to run a private law practice part-time in East Palo Alto. Cordell’s continued commitment to the East Palo Alto community and the successful minority admissions program she implemented as Assistant Dean demonstrates her lifelong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
After being appointed to the Municipal Court of Santa Clara County by Governor Jerry Brown in 1982, she became the first African American woman judge in Northern California. Judge Cordell was nominated to the Superior Court of Santa Clara County in 1988. After serving 19 years on the bench, Judge Cordell became Vice Provost and Special Counselor to the President of Campus Relations at Stanford until 2009.
Judge Cordell followed this prestigious career by running a grass-roots campaign for a 4-year Appointment to the Palo Alto City Council. Adding to her prestigious career, she became an on-camera legal analyst for such news outlets as KPIX 5, MSNBC and CNN. Not to mention the op-eds she wrote for major publications like the San Francisco Chronicle, The Mercury News, SLATE and SFGATE. She interviewed for the Commonwealth Club at Stanford University, including rapper Talib Kweli, Obama’s Senior White House Advisor, Valerie Jarret and Jessie Jackson.
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