Tales From the Bench: Essays on Life and Justice/ Hawaii's First African American Woman Judge.


About the Author

Judge Simms was born and grew up in Chicago, Illinois. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1970. She spent several years as a flight attendant for United Airlines before entering DePaul University School of Law. She received law degree from DePaul and shortly thereafter she and her family moved to Honolulu. She served ten years as a Deputy Corporation Counsel for the City and County of Honolulu and a brief term with the Attorney General’s Office.

In November, 1991, Sandra A. Simms made history by becoming the first African American female judge in the State of Hawai`i. She was appointed by Chief Justice Herman Lum to the District Court of the First Circuit situated in Honolulu. A few years later, in 1994, Governor John Waihe`e, (the first governor of Native Hawaiian ancestry since statehood) appointed her to the position of Circuit Court Judge for the First Judicial Circuit, State of Hawai`i. As a trial court judge, Judge Simms presided over matters of domestic violence, some civil proceedings and restraining orders. The majority of her time on the bench was spent presiding over felony jury trials in Honolulu, a substantial number of which were extensively covered by the media. Judge Simms retired from the bench in 2004.

Judge Simms has remained active in Honolulu community and legal circles. She has been a member of the Board of Bar Examiners since 1986, is an officer with the Afro American Lawyers Association and past director for Hawaii Women Lawyers. Recently, she was appointed by Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald to the Supreme Court Committee on Equality and Access to the Courts, and by Governor Neil Abercrombie to a term on the State Advisory Council on Mental Health.

She is Vice President of the Board of Directors for Mental Health America of Hawai`i and an Adjunct Lecturer in Criminal Justice for Chaminade University in Honolulu. Her civic activities include years of active service with the Hawai`i Chapter of The Links, Inc. and Soroptimist International of Waikiki Foundation, Inc. In both of these organizations she has held both local and regional leadership positions. She is a docent for the Honolulu Museum of Art and a member of Sewjourner Truth Quilting Circle.


About the Book

Tales from the Bench: Essays on Life and Justice, by new author Sandra A. Simms. This book has been described as a pioneer memoir about a neglected slice of Hawai`i judicial history.

Sandra A. Simms writes with simplicity and humor from a judge’s perspective about current and perennial issues and societal problems in a variety of judicial cases that come before the bench: drugs, domestic violence, and psychological instability to mention a few.

“Tales from the Bench: Essays on Life and Justice” is a unique, insightful, and compelling account of the first African American woman judge in the Hawaiian Islands. Retired Judge Simms candidly reveals the cultural and political events and forces on both the Mainland and in the Islands that shaped her character and ambition: growing up black in Chicago during post WWII migrations, the Civil Rights Movement, and the roles of her family, community, social networks, and church,” says Kathryn Waddell Takara, PhD, Professor (Ret.) University of Hawai`i at Mānoa and author of Frank Marshall Davis: The Fire and the Phoenix (A Critical Biography).

Several photos provide the reader with insights into the middle-class life of Sandra as a young girl growing up black in Chicago, who would become committed to justice, inspired to enter the field of law, and later become the first black woman judge in Hawai`i.

Sandra A. Simms arrived in Hawai`i in 1979 with her husband Hank. They have three adult children. She has been a productive and active member in the community, and a mentor for many.

More about the book:
www.pacificravenpress.com
Www.sandraasimms.com


Kayla's Redemption


About the Author

Wanda B. Campbell is an extraordinary and talented writer who brings creativity, a new sense of hope, and restoration through the healing power of God to the Kingdom, by way of Christian fiction. She uses real life everyday issues to exhort, motivate, and give comfort.

Wanda is a two-time winner of the Urban Reviews Top Shelf Book Award, two-time winner of Coffee Time Romance’s Critical Review Award, and a three-time Black Expressions Book Club Bestselling Author. She has appeared on the BCNN1/BCBC National Bestselling List multiple times and was nominated at the 2011 African American Literary Awards Show in the Christian Fiction category.


About the Book

Since childhood, Kayla Perez has despised the person responsible for every traumatic experience in her life, from her father's death to the loss of her innocence. With a heart filled with anger and bitterness, Kayla strives to live far away from her oppressor – until she meets Samuel Jerrod, who serves the person she hates most: God.

Pastor Samuel Jerrod's caring and patience softens Kayla's heart – but just as she embraces the idea of a loving God, tragedy strikes again. Will Kayla lean on her budding new faith, or will she spiral out of control and lose both salvation and Samuel...?

More about Wanda B.Campbell:
www.wandabcampbell.com

A Daddy's Love Through a Girl's Eyes


About the Author

Joyce Williams is a wife, mom, mentor and committed advocate working to improve the lives of children. Mrs. Williams' work with children brings joy to her heart and led her to serve as a teacher assistant in Tulsa, OK (Public) Schools for nine years and elevated her to a youth director position for three years at my home church. I also work with the youth at my new church, King Baptist Church.

Joyce says, "Although my husband is very active in the home, I wrote this book because of my own experience growing up without an active father. This made life very difficult at times, but I made it through with the help of my grandpa Joseph Graves help of his love and guidance, and the love of my God father Kevin Ferguson. I hope that every mother and father that reads this book to their daughter(s) understands the need to have a father figure in a girl’s life that will love her, direct her and to let her know he will be there to the end. If the father is absent, then there can be a godfather, grandpa, uncle or any male figure to guide the young girls in teaching them that they are important. I am thankful for my husband and that my daughters' have a father in the home to look up to."


About the Book

My book is about a little girl wanting to have her father in her life again, but don’t understand why things is the way they are. She continues to be positive and hope he comes around to understand that she needs him in her life.

More about the book:
www.joycewilliamsbooks.com

21 Days To Knowing Your Worth



About the Author

After studying Behavioral Science while pursuing a Bachelor's degree, Rashiah Greene (RS Greene) decided to further her education and received a Master's in Human Services. She followed her passion to help others by enrolling in a training program to become a Certified Life Coach and starting RG Personal Development. Her desire to help others also led her to facilitate workshops for high school girls on life skills and preparing them for their future. The aim is to help others achieve their goals, as well as to encourage, motivate, and inspire.



About the book

It takes 21 days to change a habit. 21 days to view things from a different perspective. What if you took this concept and made a change within you? This book is designed to do just that. Accompanied with the online program or used by itself, you are guided through 21 days to become the person you are meant to be and this begins by understanding you are worth greatness. With daily quotes and affirmations, you are encouraged each day to journal your thoughts to help in the process. At the end of the 21 days, take a look at who you are or have become.

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Loose


About the Author

Coo Sweet is a writer, librarian, and poster child for the principle that it’s never too late to realize your dreams. Coo lives in Arizona with her husband and son. She enjoys reading books, watching movies, and screaming at the TV during NBA games. She’s been known to wow her friends and family with her talent for finding amazing bargains at thrift stores.

The Book