Judge Nushin Sayfie traces her path from a fifth-grade classroom where a teacher named her attorney general, to 14 years defending clients who couldn’t afford a lawyer, to the bench of Florida’s 11th Judicial Circuit. She talks with Kathryn Rubino about what she gave up to become a judge, what she has never stopped missing, and what finally pushed her to apply for a vacancy she hadn’t planned on.
She’s direct about the realities most judicial candidates don’t advertise: the pressure of running for election, the vulnerability of every public decision, and the steep learning curve of developing the thick skin the job demands. On women in law, she’s equally clear. The numbers at the top still don’t reflect what’s happening in law school classrooms, and that gap doesn’t close without honest conversation and real mentorship.
* The move from trial lawyer to judge means trading the high of winning for a different kind of authority. Most honest judges will tell you they miss it.
* Florida’s system of judicial elections creates genuine pressure on sitting judges. Any judge who claims otherwise has probably already decided to retire.
* Preparation is irreplaceable. No natural talent substitutes for doing the work, and that’s as true in the courtroom as anywhere.
* Mentorship isn’t optional. It’s one of the clearest predictors of who makes it to the top of the profession, especially for women.
* “Use the robe.” Authority doesn’t require volume. The most effective leaders in any room are the ones who bring the temperature down.
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Bluesky @Kathryn1
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