Judge Dwayne D. Woodruff is all about the challenge. He challenges others, such as the juvenile offenders who come before him in the family court division of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas in Pittsburgh. He directs them to do better and volunteers for several programs to help at-risk kids succeed. Woodruff also rises to his own challenges. A former professional football player—and Super Bowl champion—Woodruff went to law school full-time while he played defensive back for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now, after more than a decade on the court bench, Woodruff is running for a seat on the state supreme court, campaigning nights and weekends while he maintains his docket and his community service commitments.
Q. Do you ever use football metaphors on the court bench?
A. Not really. If you come to my courtroom, it’s serious. That calls for serious talk, and football metaphors rarely have a spot in that discussion. I try to keep it uplifting, encouraging and supportive. At the same time, there are consequences for kids who come to my courtroom, so we have to talk about that. But sometimes I’ll show kids my Super Bowl ring. Not the first time they come in, but if they’re on the right track, I’ll let them try it on. I’ll say: “Look, you can accomplish great things—maybe things you can’t even think about now—but success will come to you.”
Read more from Jenny B. Davis about Judge Dwayne D. Woodruff.
Attribution: Contributed photo; gallery produced by Andy Lefkowitz.
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