Judge Stone (book)
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| Author | Viola Davis James Patterson |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Legal thriller, courtroom drama |
| Publisher | Little, Brown and Company (US) Century (UK) |
Publication date | March 9, 2026 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (hardcover), e-book, audiobook |
| Pages | 432 (hardcover) |
| ISBN | 978-0-316-57983-4 |
Judge Stone is a 2026 legal thriller novel co-written by actress Viola Davis and American author James Patterson.[1] Published by Little, Brown and Company on March 9, 2026, the novel centers on a Black female judge in rural Alabama who presides over a controversial abortion case that divides her small town and attracts national attention.[2][3][4]
The novel is set in Union Springs, Alabama, where Judge Mary Stone presides over the local circuit court. Stone, a Black woman who graduated at the top of her class from the University of Alabama Law School, runs her family farm and hosts Saturday morning community breakfasts at her home.[5] She is respected throughout the town and is preparing for reelection.[6][7] Thirteen-year-old Nova Jones seeks to terminate her pregnancy. Dr. Bria Gaines performs the procedure and is subsequently arrested for committing a Class A felony under Alabama law, which carries a potential sentence of 99 years in prison and includes no exceptions for rape or incest.[8]
Judge Stone is assigned to preside over Dr. Gaines's trial. She faces pressure from multiple directions to recuse herself: from the district attorney seeking maximum punishment, from a local pastor, from anonymous callers, and from Alabama Governor Bert Lamar, who threatens to call in the National Guard. Stone's sister warns her that the case will "destroy" her.[8] As tensions escalate, someone involved with the case is murdered.[3][9]