From the Other Side of the Bench

An incisive look at life both in and out of the courtroom, From the Other Side of the Bench tells the story of one man's extraordinary life of service.

Hon. Peter Leavitt's story begins with his colorful upbringing in Brooklyn, New York, and returns to this theme throughout to explain how he came to his judicial decisions as well as how he came to live his life.

Intriguingly, Leavitt begins his career as a stand-up comedian. After working as a prosecutor and a defense attorney, his career leads him to a position as a trial judge. There, he is tasked with overseeing some high-profile cases, including the 1996 court case of an off-duty, white policeman sentenced to twenty years to life for murdering a young black man in a fight over a parking space.

Leavitt's fascinating life also includes service with the US Army and the New York Guard and volunteer work as a firefighter, Red Cross instructor, and a certified EMT.

Informative as it is entertaining, this sparkling memoir raises important questions about the choices we make, illustrating how the family we are born into and those we meet along the way form the people we become.