To Judge Eric Fleming, team sport dynamics are an apt metaphor for youth rehabilitation. The players are defendants ages 18 to 24. These are “high risk, high need” young adults getting a shot at having their charges dismissed — if they can make it through a year and a half or so of counseling and educational programming. 

(Subscription required) Judge Kelly Babineau, the first in her family to attend college, built her career as a public defender before moving into family law. Colleagues praise her work ethic, adaptability, and commitment to giving every case the attention it deserves.

(Subscription required) California Supreme Court Justices Goodwin H. Liu and Kelli M. Evans dissented more than 60 times each in the 2024-25 term over the court's refusal to review criminal cases, fueling a sharp rise in recorded dissents and spotlighting concerns about sentences for younger convicts.

(Subscription required) The governor's 15 trial-court appointments span Alameda, Contra Costa, Kern, Los Angeles, Marin, Mendocino, Orange, Riverside (2), San Bernardino, San Francisco (2), Santa Cruz and Siskiyou, reflecting broad criminal, civil and family law experience.