Justice Strauss

Justice Strauss
Justice Strauss is a high court judge who lives next to Count Olaf's house. "Justice" is a title and not her first name; her first name is unknown. The Baudelaires take a liking to her as soon as they meet, and she soon lets them use her large library, filled mostly with law books, to learn how to cook puttanesca sauce. Her library also comes in handy in the foiling of Count Olaf's plot to get the Baudelaire fortune. At the mock wedding that Count Olaf sets up, she plays the judge and almost marries Violet to the Count (Violet prevents this). At the end of the book, Justice offers to look after the Baudelaires, but this is not possible due to legal obligations on the part of Mr. Poe.

First Impressions
Justice Strauss lives in a lovely house that boasts well-cleaned bricks and many well-groomed plants, as well as a large collection of books; a stark contrast to her next-door neighbor Count Olaf's dirty, dilapidated house. She is the first person to greet Mr. Poe and the Baudelaires when they arrive at their new guardian's neighborhood. She comes across as firm, warm, and very kind, and invites the children to come over and help with her gardening. The children mistake her for Count Olaf's wife, but she explains that he's just a neighbor that she doesn't know very well, and directs them to his house.