Presiding Over Shadows

From Chaos To Order In The Court

Michael Randazzo

$55.95 $47.59

Hardback

Not in-store but you can order this
How long will it take?

Availability Information

We source books from suppliers in Australia and overseas. For books we don't currently have in stock, the time it takes to get them from our suppliers can vary widely - from a few days to a few months - so we check each book with each supplier to determine the expected time it will take to be supplied to us.

We then advise you accordingly. If the time taken to get any book is too long for you, you can let us know and we will cancel or adjust your order, and refund as required.

To find out the anticipated arrival time for specific items prior to ordering, please contact us by phone or email:

Phone +61 2 9264 3111, or 1800 4 BOOKS (1800 4 26657) if outside Sydney:
option 1 Abbey's Bookshop (Crime, History, Science, Kids & more) • info@abbeys.com.au
option 2 Language Book Centre (ESL & Foreign Languages) • language@abbeys.com.au
option 3 Galaxy Bookshop (Sci-fi, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels) • sf@galaxybooks.com.au

QTY:

English

Wildblue Press
16 September 2025

Biography: general; Legal profession: general; Courts & procedure

I am Judge Michael Randazzo, but by all odds, I never should have been. My story begins in a pop-up trailer - no electricity, no running water-born to parents who dropped out of high school and carried the weight of our family's excommunication from the Sicilian Mafia. I came into the world premature, delivered by a veterinarian, clinging to life while doctors warned I'd never catch up.

Crime and tragedy run through my bloodline: moonshining, sexual abuse, attempted manslaughter. My father struck deals with the Mexican Cartel and still battles opioid addiction. Every member of my family has been both perpetrator and victim. Yet, somewhere between generational sin and the chance to start over, I clawed my way through law school. Today, I serve as one of Missouri's youngest Presiding Circuit Judges.

This memoir is my confession and my exorcism. It's about the curse of inherited character flaws, the desperate hope to shield my children from them, and the heavy truth that even heroes - like my beloved Grandpa Nick - are deeply flawed. Each chapter opens a new door: from Grandpa Nick wrestling a grizzly bear to the darkest corners of family trauma, violence, and betrayal.

What does it take to rise above a legacy of darkness? How do you reconcile love for those who did unspeakable things? My life is proof that the past shapes us - but it doesn't have to define us.

By: Michael Randazzo
Imprint: Wildblue Press
Dimensions: Height: 216mm, Width: 140mm, Spine: 14mm
Weight: 422g
ISBN: 9781964730721
ISBN 10: 1964730724
Pages: 238
Publication Date: 16 September 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Judge Michael Randazzo is a dedicated public servant, accomplished attorney, and respected community leader. Born prematurely and told he would face lifelong challenges, Mike overcame adversity to become the first in his family to graduate high school, eventually earning his Juris Doctorate from St. Louis University School of Law and passing the Missouri Bar in 2010.Throughout his career, Mike has embodied leadership and service-prosecuting over 50 jury trials, including high-profile murder cases, and offering over 100 hours of pro bono work annually for veterans, police, and children. In 2020, he was elected as Division 2 Circuit Judge for Missouri's 42nd Judicial Circuit, and by 2022, he became the youngest Presiding Circuit Judge in the state.Mike is an avid hunter and can often be found enjoying the tranquility of nature. A beloved youth sports coach, Mike has led teams to local, state, and national-level success-all while volunteering his time. He regularly teaches free continuing education courses for law enforcement and mentors at-risk youth in his courtroom.Judge Randazzo's life is a powerful example of resilience, commitment to community, and leading by example.