Edition 61

Saint Judy is a biographical legal drama that showcases the life of Judith L Wood a.k.a Judy a real-life immigration lawyer. Judy is credited to have single handedly changed the (political) asylum laws in U.S to include women as a protected class of immigrants.

The reel life character Asefa unfolds the real-life case – Nasseri v. Moschorak, an Afghani teacher who fled with her family from her homeland Kabul to escape continued torture and abuse from rebel factionist groups. She landed in India only to be tracked and threatened there as well. Leaving her family behind in India she fled to the United States. She was detained by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (“Service”) when she attempted to enter the United States in June 1992 only to be turned down threatened to be deported. She filed a case in District Court seeking political asylum The DC turned down the plea for asylum on the ground that she was excludable from seeking political asylum under the Immigration and Nationality Act.     

Judy Wood argued in the Court of appeals against the Ruling of the District Court. Judy proved without ambiguity that Nasseri faced threat to life and safety if deported back to Kabul and hence argued that she be granted political asylum. Several undeniable documents and evidences were submitted in Court which proved this beyond reasonable doubt. Basis that the Court of Appeals overturned the ruling of the DC and allowed Nasseri to file a writ of Habeas Corpus to be granted Political asylum. Judy became a crusader for women immigrants and is revered by immigration lawyers the world over to have saved lakhs of female immigrants’ lives in the United States.

The movie poignantly depicts the struggle of the immigrant and the sheer dedication and focus of Judy Wood in bringing justice to women immigrants even at the cost of her personal life.

The movie received commercial and critical acclaim with the lead actor Michelle Monaghan being nominated for best performance in film festivals.

The Novel is from the house of Richard North Patterson, an attorney cum author and now political commentator. Patterson weaves a poignant yet disturbing legal thriller. Ricardo Arias and his wife Terri have had a bitter separation and an even uglier custody battle for their 6-year-old daughter Elena. When Ricardo is found dead, it is originally suspected to be suicide. But slowly all evidence point at possible murder by attorney cum political aspirant Christopher Paget. As the case unfolds, disturbing facts emerge – from a suspected affair between Paget and Terri to Paget’s son being a possible child molester. The novel slowly yet steadily unfolds dark secrets to finally find out the motive and the murderer. A thriller read……from the eyes of the child.

The American legal thriller series that had a rum time of six years on prime time. The series revolves around Annalise Keating (Viola Davis) an attorney and Law professor at Philadelphia University. She hires five of her students to intern at her law firm. Annalise and her interns are accused of plotting to murder and kill her husband and his mistress. As FBI unravels such offences/ crimes they must use every tactic in the book to survive that will change their lives forever. Viola Davis had the distinction of being the first coloured woman to win a Primetime Emmy award for outstanding lead actor besides winning Screen Actors Guild Awards and nominations in Golden Globes and TV critics awards. Other cast members were nominated several times. A must watch.