About the Book
Entering the Arena chronicles the spectacular history of women lawyers in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York—the nation’s oldest and most renowned federal prosecutor’s office. Tracing their journey from the first woman hire in 1906 through the barriers of the mid-century and the breakthroughs of the 1970s, it reveals how these pioneering women transformed both the SDNY and the American legal landscape, and how their inclusion was tied to the office’s enduring legacy of integrity and leadership.
Praise for Entering the Arena
"A wonderful read! Combining elegant writing with a zest for the remarkable and unexpected details, Zornberg recounts the storied history and fierce independence of the SDNY's brave and brilliant first women AUSAs."
"This terrific book tells the story of the women lawyers who served the public interest as Assistant United States Attorneys, with ethics and integrity, in the Southern District of New York, an office established by President Washington in 1789. The story, as told by the author, a former assistant in that office, is an amazing, touching, and inspiring one."
"Entering the Arena: The Spectacular History of Women at SDNY is a gem. It is a fascinating, never before told history of the incredible women of the most powerful prosecutor's office in the country told in an engaging, quick-witted storytelling style."
"Like a juror who has just listened to a Lisa Zornberg closing, I am blown away. Lisa brings to life the vital, moving, often humorous—yet, until now, largely overlooked—history of women in the SDNY. As Lisa demonstrates through careful research and engaging storytelling, these women embodied the highest prosecutorial ideals."
"This is a remarkable story that needs to be told. Zornberg traces the overlooked history of women in the Southern District US Attorney's Office, showcasing the courageous trailblazers as well as the men who blocked them from serving and others who championed them."
About the Author
Lisa Zornberg is a partner at the law firm of Morvillo Abramowitz Grand Iason & Anello PC in New York City. She formerly served as Chief of the Criminal Division at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, and as Chief Counsel to the mayor of New York City.
With her unique perspective as a former SDNY prosecutor and leader, Zornberg brings meticulous research and sharp wit to this definitive history of women lawyers at SDNY. She shines a long-overdue spotlight on the women who shaped our country's most powerful U.S. Attorney's Office, from Mary Grace Quackenbos to Pat Hynes and Shirah Neiman, and all those in between.
Through compelling storytelling and careful historical research, Zornberg preserves a vital slice of legal history for future generations, demonstrating how these trailblazing women embodied the highest prosecutorial ideals in an institution that has occupied an unrivaled place in our nation's legal history since its founding in 1789.