Reinventing the Wheel: Hard Roads Can Lead to Beautiful Places

After a life-changing car accident as a teenager, Pat Broderick had two choices: remain in the safe haven of her parents or reinvent herself and find a new path through life as a woman in a wheelchair. She chose the latter. Pat finished her college degree, earned her master’s, and began working as a probation officer. Perturbed by what she observed in the courtroom, she decided to become a lawyer. She graduated from law school, passed the bar exam, and went to work. Her illustrious career, spanning roles from a volunteer social worker in Ecuador to a senior judge in the District of Columbia, embodies her unwavering commitment to public service and justice. Judge Broderick has influenced the legal landscape across various disciplines, all while fostering legal education at top law schools and advocating for diversity and women’s advancement in the legal profession.Her story is a testimony to overcoming pain, fear, and prejudice but tempered by her resolve to carry on traveling and having fun in her own way. Just ask her ski instructor.