In this episode of Politics of Justice, I revisit Chapters 11–16 of Judged, where Olivia is abruptly removed from her home and left waiting in a police station, shuffled between multiple social workers with no clear advocate or explanation. The scene captures how quickly children can disappear into systems that are overstretched, fragmented, and indifferent to continuity.

In counterpoint, we meet Sheila Harrison Grant at the height of her power as a federal judge, confident in the authority of the system she represents, while Casey Cort navigates the least prestigious court — a space where the stakes are high but the recognition is low. These parallel storylines highlight how power, class, and institutional status shape whose voices are heard and whose experiences are managed rather than understood.

In the video, I talk about why these chapters matter, what I was trying to show beneath the plot, and how these early dynamics set the moral foundation for the Casey Cort series.

Judged is currently free on all platforms.
This series uses the book as a springboard to talk about justice, race, family, and the systems that fail us—and the ones we fight to change.

About Politics of Justice:
Politics of Justice is a long-form video series where I revisit my novels and unpack the personal history, legal realities, and systemic issues woven into the fiction. These conversations explore justice, race, family, power, and the cost of survival—on the page and in real life.

About Aime Austin:
I’m Aime Austin, a legal thriller author and former trial lawyer. I write the Casey Cort and Nicole Long series, stories centered on women navigating broken systems and the moral complexity of justice. My work blends fiction, lived experience, and legal insight.

Find Me Online:
Website: https://aimeaustin.com
Substack: https://legalthrillerauthor.substack.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legalthrillerauthor/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@legalthrillerauthor
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@legalthrillerauthor
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/aime-austin
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/legalthrillerauthor

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This series is also available in video form on YouTube.The Politics of Justice #