The Price of Forgiveness

"Passionately advocates for individuals in need while highlighting that bankruptcy is far from a black and white process." -BookLife by Publisher's Weekly"A deeply personal account of a life led in service of the law as well as a forcefully presented and thoughtfully written account of debt in modern America." -Kirkus Reviews"Humanizes the bankruptcy experience." -Nancy B. Rapoport, JD, UNLV Distinguished Professor, speaker on bankruptcy ethics Bankruptcy is often treated as a mark of shame rather than a financial safety net. But what if that story is wrong?Drawing on nearly three decades as a federal bankruptcy judge-and as the first woman appointed to the Arizona bankruptcy court-Sarah Sharer Curley reframes bankruptcy as a vital mechanism for fairness, renewal, and social stability. Curley witnessed firsthand how bankruptcy law plays out for both everyday Americans and the most powerful corporations in the country-and how the law began to increasingly favor creditors and abandon those it was designed to protect.Through gripping accounts of real cases, ranging from families overwhelmed by debt to high-profile failures, Curley reveals the human cost of debt and how bankruptcy court often functions as the "emergency room" of the law, where people in crisis arrive seeking a chance to breathe and start again.Both a civic guide and a call to action, this book will change the way you think about debt, fairness, and forgiveness-and remind you why they matter to us all.