Taking questions from students are (left to right) Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Kameshia D. Gant, Wayne County 36th District Court Judge Shawn K. Jacque, and Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Karen Braxton.
In recognition of March as National Reading Month, several local judges once again set aside their law books and picked up children’s books to participate in Black Child Development Institute – Detroit’s virtual and live “Joy to Read” programs. The live programs were held at Jefferson Douglass Academy, New Paradigm Glazer Academy, and the Pontiac Library.
By hosting the program virtually, D.C. lawyer-author Jessica Childress was able to appear and read from her book “Juris Prudence Goes to Law School.” Juris Prudence, J.P., decides at age 5 that she’s going to law school and enrolls at the National Kids Leaders Academy so that she can meet lawyers.
Another book on the reading list is authored by Kalamazoo County 8th District Court Judge Alisa Parker-LaGrone. Her book “Lyla and Lydia’s Justice For All“ is a series of courtroom tales that impart life lessons.
The judges not only read books but talked about their journey to the bench, debated whether Jordan or Lebron was the GOAT (Greatest of All Time), and described their favorite hairstyles after reading about puff balls, braids and beads, and high-top fades.
One parent emphasized how important it was that the students realized that judges were people too. “This allows them to see themselves achieving their big dreams.”
The judges expressed it was their honor to read to the students and wrote encouraging messages in the books that the students received at the end of the in-person event.
The 2026 supporting and reading included Wayne County 32A District Court Judge Rebekah Coleman; Wayne County 36th District Court Judges Shawn K. Jacque and Poncé D. Clay of 36th District Court; Oakland County 50th District Court Judges Jeremy Bowie and Cynthia Thomas Walker; Oakland County Circuit Court Judges Kameshia D. Gant and Kwame Rowe; Wayne County Probate Court Judge Macie Gaines; Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Judge Karen Braxton; and Kalamazoo County 8th District Court Judge Alisa Parker-LaGrone.
BCDI-President and Jefferson Douglass Principal Monica Thompson expressed her appreciation for the judges’ continued support of the “Joy to Read” and shared her desire to host reading events beyond the month of March.
