Candidate for
Superior Court Judge; County of Alameda; Office 20

My promise to you is simple. I will listen. I will not make assumptions. And my respect for the law - not politics - will guide my decision making on the bench. Everytime.

• My mission as judge will be to make sure that each person appearing in my court is heard and respected. Our system too often forgets that each case represents real people facing real difficulties. Parties should not be treated as a number or a category. As a judge I'll never forget that my decisions affect real lives.

I have seen our legal system present stumbling blocks for many people who do not have the resources - of time, money and technical knowledge - to achieve the best outcomes for themselves and their families. Over and over again, I have heard plaintiffs, defendants, and lawyers say that they seek an impartial justice, too often to no avail.

As a Judge I will bring to the courtroom my awareness of the obstacles faced by litigants and attorneys alike and help to clear the way. To make a difference in this way would be a privilege and source of great satisfaction.

• "Justice, not politics" is more than a slogan. It's really a guiding principle. I firmly believe that all judicial decisions should be guided by legal principles and not by party affiliation. After all, an idea that belongs to one party today, may belong to another party next year. Consequently, when such ideas come up for judicial review, politics shouldn't play any sort of a role.