I had wanted to get her a copy for several months, but last week two things finally came together. Armed with a brand new copy of my book, I found myself with a few moments to get by the Court and, even though they were holding court in the morning, Chief Justice Toal actually found a few minutes to meet with me that afternoon. Clearly I won’t go into any great detail about our meeting, but suffice it to say, she is a true science fiction fan, and the reaction that I had written such a story was priceless. I was proud and delighted to give her a signed copy of the book, but the most wonderful thing for me was seeing that reaction. It literally was like going home, and I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.
My two years working directly for her gave me an insight into things that have more than a little bearing on my work. She is brilliant, and perhaps the greatest legal mind I have ever seen in action. Her ability to swoop through a mountain of records, files, evidence, briefs, etc., is unsurpassed and her further ability to get to the key details in that mountain of material are absolutely uncanny. Without a doubt, her tenure as our Chief Justice is marked by accomplishment, and I will always be very proud to call her my friend. ~ Michael S. Pauley