Shirley M. Hufstedler.

• Author: Nelson, Dorothy W.
• Position: Former Stanford Law School graduate, US Secretary of Education, US Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit judge, attorney, and advocate - Testimonial

Shirley Hufstedler and I were friends in the vineyards of law reform, judicial administration, and legal education for over fifty years. Therefore, it was a thrill for me to inherit her judicial chambers when I was appointed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals by President Carter and she went on to become his Secretary of Education.

Shirley had what I call "moral readiness." She used her knowing and loving qualities in service to the world. She felt that we were so intent upon teaching knowledge of the world that we neglected the emotional (what I call "spiritual") side of education. Today, "emotional intelligence" is one of the hottest topics in the field of education. Whether as a judge; educator; or board member of various local, national, and international organizations, her aim always was to bring people together peacefully, a model for my own life. She was so successful at this that she was referred to by some as "the wizard reformer."

She was a multifaceted person. She excelled at everything from bird-watching, gardening, and mountain-climbing to gourmet cooking. Occasionally, she would write verse and would occasionally utter, in the midst of one of her brilliant speeches, a glowing poetic phrase.

Her activities in international affairs were amazing. She was a member of the U.S. State Department and American Bar Association delegation that negotiated agreements to exchange legal...