During her career as a judge, civil rights lawyer, counsel to a governor, politician, and community activist, Battle Robinson had a first-hand acquaintance with many of the pressing issues of the day. And, as a popular speaker, she was often called upon to talk about them. This collection of some of her speeches touches on such varied topics as the sometimes chaotic world of family law and family courts, why the Statue of Liberty is depicted as female, what happens to election day losers, what the Bible has to say about lawyers, and how the nation's creaky child support system can be improved. The selections contain many anecdotes drawn from the author's courtroom experiences and her acquaintance with politicians, lawyers, and ordinary citizens who appeared before her. Throughout, they reveal her strong conviction that courts and institutions of government must operate fairly and with sensitivity to those they serve and that a healthy democracy depends on citizens being involved in their local communities.