Called to Justice: The Life of a Federal Trial Judge

by Warren K. Urbom, William Jay Riley (Foreword)

Early in his judicial career, U.S. District Judge Warren K. Urbom was assigned a yearlong string of criminal trials arising from a seventy-one-day armed standoff between the American Indian Movement and federal law enforcement at Wounded Knee, South Dakota. In Called to Justice Urbom provides the first behind-the-scenes look at what quickly became one of the most significant series of federal trials of the twentieth century. Yet Wounded Knee was only one set of monumental cases Urbom presided over during his years on the bench, a set that in turn forms but one chapter in a remarkable life story. Urbom’s memoir begins on a small farm in Nebraska during the dustbowl 1930s. From making it through the Great Depression and drought to serving in World War II, working summers for his father’s dirt-moving business, and going to school on the G.I. Bill, Urbom’s experiences constitute a classic American story of making the most of opportunity, inspiration, and a little luck. Urbom gives a candid account of his time as a trial lawyer and his early plans to become a minister—and of the effect both had on his judicial career. His story offers a rare inside view of what it means to be a federal judge—the nuts and bolts of conducting trials, weighing evidence, and making decisions—but also considers the questions of law and morality, all within the framework of a life well lived and richly recounted.

384 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2012

Reviews

[Jane]

It is probably "damning with faint praise" to say this book was more interesting than I expected, but that is the case. It is the memoir of Warren Urbom, a former Federal judge from Lincoln, Nebraska. Probably the most important of the cases he presided over were the trials of many of the Native Americans who took over the town of Wounded Knee, South Dakota, in 1973. I was impressed with the respect and consideration he showed for Native American customs and traditions. For example, he didn't insist that they stand when he entered the court room, nor did he require that they swear on the Bible.
Urbom spoke at a book club I belong to which only reinforced my impression that he was a wise, thoughtful, and fair judge.

[Becky]

An interesting autobiography of Warren K. Urbom, the Federal judge who tried many of the Wounded Knee cases. His philosophy is to be fair, just, uphold the law, and provide equal attention to both sides of the case. His fairness during the Wounded Knee cases earned him the respect of the American Indians involved. Any lawyer would enjoy reading this autobiography.

[Erin]

Judge Urbom tells the compelling story of his life and judicial career in this well written memoir. This book was especially interesting to me because I am a law student in Nebraska. His descriptions of the cases, and the people involved, show his commitment to fairness and compassion.

[Shannan]

I have heard wonderful things about this book that are heartwarming! I KNOW it's not fiction and yet I am still going to read it. Shocker!! Besides, he is from Nebraska. ;-)