The Judge is a remarkable man. William Treat was my predecessor in office – and to me he will always be known as The Judge.

He has been the friend of presidents, confidant to ambassadors, builder of financial institutions and founder of the pre-eminent national probate judges’ organization in the country. His name is firmly etched in marble on the halls at the National Center for State Courts in Williamsburg, Virginia.

To me, however, all things are local. And he is a local legend.

The book is published by Hobblebush Books and is scheduled for release in March. It is a welcome chronicle of the life of the jurist we all know and love. Beyond that, it gives us an overdue in-depth look at some of the formative moments in his noteworthy life.

I particularly enjoyed the chapters dealing with his association with the United Nations and the development of the National College of Probate Judges. He could not have known at the time that I would eventually follow in his footsteps and become president of that now prestigious organization made up of judicial leaders across the country. He made it all possible.

Read this book. It is an inspiration to all of us in the field and, who – like it or not – are part of the arena.