the former judge

Rebecca had been a superior court judge. She was born into poverty.  She pulled herself up by her bootstraps. She got a law degree and got admitted to the bar. She tried being a defense Attorney but switched and became a prosecutor. She was appointed to the bench. She has been confirmed to the state supreme court.

She was on her way up. The sky seemed to be the limit. She struggled with alcoholism. Part of being a lawyer and jurist involved social gatherings.  These gatherings included drinking. She rarely drank outside these gatherings. She did drink during the functions.  She had been pulled over for d.u.i on a few occasions. Her friends protected her.

One day, she was leaving her going away party just before she took her seat on the state supreme court. She thought she could drive but she could not. She hit someone. She did not know that she had hit anyone. The walker was pronounced dead at the scene.  A witness saw her car driving erratically. There was evidence on her car that she had ran over someone.

She was arrested at the Supreme Court  She was presiding over a hearing when the state police arrived. The newspaper in the state said that "jurist arrested for d.u.i hit and run. " she plead guilty and got twenty years to life.

She was treated as a maximum-security prisoner. She got no special treatment. She was an inmate. She wore a purple scrub-like uniform.   She got treatment for alcohol addiction while on the inside. 

She was a model. prisoner. she got involved in a program to work with rescue animals. She volunteered in the prison infirmary.  She helped other inmates get their g.e.d and learn to read. She worked to turn her life around. 

She was 35 when she went to prison. She would be 55 years old id a minimum of twenty years. She tried to make the best of things.

Her sisters and brothers and parents visited her in prison. She looked forward to seeing them.  She was able to see her nieces and nephews.

She went to the chapel services. She met with the Chaplin frequently. She attended church before she was incarcerated. She had gone to a luthern church. She was active in the church.  She thought she was saved. She made a more serious profession of faith here.

A baptist group came into the prison.  The group was led by a young pastor named Matthew grant. He was in his thirties. He was a widower with three young daughters.  She was baptized in the prison. He had discipleship classes with her. 

"I got your Christmas card. Thank you. Your kids are adorable. " she said. "I could not have gotten through all of this without them. They keep me going. " matt said. "I could see that. They are beautiful kids," she said. "They remind me so much of their mom especially my middle child mayce. She looks just like her. " matt said. 

She always wanted to be a mom. Her carer got in the way.  She could still have kids her age. That was not possible here.  She tried not to think about it. She focused on other things. She liked to hear stories about his kids. She enjoyed it when she got to see her niece and nephews.

At first, Matt was just a Chaplin. Then she got saved and he was like her pastor. Then they became friends. He got her care packages on occasion. In a different situation. Who knows?

One day she had come back from her work assignment when she was called to the warden's office. She had no idea what was going on. She was taken to the office. "Come on in. Sit down." The warden said. She sat down. "The governor has issued a computation. You will be released this spring!" The warden said.

"Excuse me?" She asked. "You are being released. I just got the order," he said. "I am going to be free?" I asked. "Yes. Your conviction will stand. You will able to.go.home. " he said.