Notes from a Reluctant Magistrate is a collection of stories
accumulated from the author's service as a County Magistrate (25
years). Also included are stories from her twenty years teaching
English to high school seniors, a chapter on life lessons, and
several contributions from collegues. Probably the best person to
recommend Judge Harper's book is Timothy "Thor" Mullen, author of
Microsoft Security Bible (www.amazon.com). Here is what Timothy had
to say: "Growing up as the son of a judge is not a typical
upbringing. Before my mother became a magistrate judge, she spent
many years as a high school English teacher both at Wando and
Moultrie High School in Charleston County. I was not only her son,
but also a student in the metaphorical sense and in actuality. She
was my high school teacher in both Speech and Developmental Reading
during my junior year, as well as my primary English teacher during
my senior year. Getting to visit politically powerful people is
exciting but around the Mullen household such opportunities were
common. It seemed as though every other day some senator,
congressman, judge, or other famously popular, highly respected and
tremendously admired political figure stopped by for visits. I
think a Democrat or two dropped in as well. I watched my mother
move and grow through many different stages of both our lives, from
a "stay at home mom" to working mother and teacher, to political
activist and magistrate judge. Regardless of what she was doing,
whether it was presiding on the bench or simply picking blue crabs
caught off the Old Bridge while I mixed the cornbread, she always
did it with an underlying, unwavering sense of integrity. It was
always around her and came as naturally to her as water to a
porpoise. And it still does. As such, I am incredibly fortunate
that some of her traits have been passed down to me. I would like
to think I have a strong sense of right and wrong, and that I have
a strong ethic. I don't always do the right thing, but at least I
know when I am not doing it. As a young man, it was important for
me to be independent and to earn my way in the world. That was not
always easy when your mother is a judge in a (then) small city. I
was once stopped for speeding by a Town of Mount Pleasant police
officer, who upon reviewing my license, said, "Tim Mullen? Any
relationship to Judge Mullen?" I reluctantly said, "Yes, sir, she
is my mother." He rolled his eyes and exhaled condescendingly,
obviously self-resigned that he would have to let me off, which he
did under protests. I was standing with a group of young lawyers at
a cocktail party as they discussed a case heard in court that day.
A loser in that case said, "I don't think she's a very good judge,"
not knowing that son Tim was in the group. In my coolest voice, I
said, "Well, I don't know whether she is a good judge or not. I do
know that she is a really good mother." The conversation changed
quickly as the lawyer moved on to another subject. Some have called
her friend, some have called her Judge, and some have called her
Your Honor. It is, however, my honor to have simply called her
'Mom.' "
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