A Tale of American Armor
Scar Tissue
Judge. Marine. Black. Lesbian. Every scar earned. Every lesson lived.
About The Book
Scar Tissue follows the life of Judge Shannon Frison from the South Side of Chicago to the bench of the Massachusetts Superior Court, tracing the path of a Black lesbian Marine who moved through some of America’s most rigid and exclusionary systems—military, legal, and cultural.
The stories she shares are scars: some visible, others buried. At times, they became armor. Over time, they became lessons. Whether facing bias in uniform, judgment in the courtroom, or silence in leadership, Frison had to decide how to carry what the world gave her.
This memoir walks through the moments that left a mark and the mindset that helped her keep going. Scar Tissue is about identity, authority, and navigating power as someone who was never supposed to have it.
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about the author
Retired Justice Shannon Frison is a distinguished legal professional and former judge who served on the Massachusetts Superior Court from 2013 to 2023, making history as the court's youngest appointee at age 39.
Prior to her tenure on the Superior Court, Justice Frison spent over four years on the Boston Municipal Court, where she developed a reputation for her commitment to justice and advocacy for the oppressed.
In 2007, she founded Frison Law Firm, P.C. in Boston, focusing on “blue collar” crime, employment law, and military justice. Her legal career includes high-profile cases in the military courts of North Carolina, Pensacola, and Okinawa, as well as complex criminal trials in Massachusetts, including a notable quadruple murder case in Dorchester.
A Major in the United States Marine Corps and a Marine Corps Judge Advocate, Justice Frison has actively contributed to military justice, serving in various capacities during her two mobilizations in support of the Global War on Terror. She is a passionate educator, having taught law at Brandeis University and Harvard Law School, where she has been a key figure in trial advocacy training.
Justice Frison is a past president of the Massachusetts Black Judges Conference and has been a vocal advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion within the legal community. She has delivered keynote speeches on bias and diversity and is recognized for her mentorship of law students and trial lawyers.
Now retired from the bench, Justice Frison has returned to Frison Law Firm, P.C., where she continues to focus on complex criminal and civil litigation. She is an active speaker and board member for various organizations, including The Life After Prison, Inc., and remains dedicated to addressing racial disparities in the criminal justice system.
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