Linda A. Alley, who became an attorney in her 40s and whose relentless work ethic propelled her to the Broward Circuit Court bench, died from pneumonia on Wednesday while she was undergoing cancer treatment. She was 71.

Broward Chief Circuit Judge Jack Tuter said he last spoke with Alley in early December while she was undergoing chemotherapy treatment at Holy Cross Hospital. He recalled his colleague was upbeat as doctors expected her to resume her professional life in mid-January.

Broward Chief Circuit Judge Jack Tuter (Credit: J. Albert Diaz/ALM) Broward Chief Circuit Judge Jack Tuter (Credit: J. Albert Diaz/ALM)