Lawrence writes of Judge Reade \"that he overcame tremendous obstacles in order to gain an education but finally became one of the greatest lawyers, jurists, and businessmen North Carolina has ever known.\"
Badger, a native of New Bern, was a superior court judge, secretary of the navy, and U.S. Senator. Lawrence describes him as \"a man who stood by his convictions despite all opposition that might be brought against him.\"
Lawrence has compiled a list of soldiers in the Revolutionary War, Civil War, and World War who later became members of the judiciary of North Carolina. Among them are Colonel John Stokes and Samuel Ashe of New Hanover County.