Do Criminal Court Judges Look At Each Case Individually Or Are The Cases Just Another Number?
Do judges treat defendants as individuals or just case numbers? It varies by county, explains Oakland criminal defense attorney Andrew Dósa. Alameda and San Francisco judges, he finds, want to understand each client's situation. Santa Clara County judges, by contrast, rarely check the prosecutor—what the DA wants, they largely deliver. Most judges, he says, still avoid slipping into cynicism.
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Answered by Andrew Dósa · Oakland, CA
Highlights
Frequently Asked Questions
Do judges see defendants as individuals?
It varies by county—Alameda and San Francisco judges tend to want to understand each client's situation rather than treat them as a number.
Does case volume affect judges?
Yes—sheer volume can breed cynicism, though he finds most judges still avoid slipping into it.
Do some judges just follow the DA?
In some counties the long-standing view is that the prosecutor drives everything—Santa Clara judges, he finds, rarely check the DA and largely deliver what the DA wants.
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