Q: In January of 2017, you became the first female African American to serve as Presiding Judge for the Superior Court of the County of San Francisco. How many judicial officers are within your court’s jurisdiction? How many courthouses are in your county?
A:
Currently, there are 49 Superior Court Judges and one Superior Court Commissioner. As of June 2018, there will be four vacancies due to retirements. San Francisco County has four court houses: the Hall of Justice, Civic Center Courthouse, Juvenile Justice Center, and the Community Justice Center. Further, San Francisco now has approximately nine full-time Collaborative Courts.
Q: What does your typical work day/week look like as you manage The San Francisco County Superior Court?
A:
Monday through Thursday, I handle morning calendars. From time to time, I will preside over a CEQA case (California Environmental Quality Act). Monday through Friday, I handle the Civil Ex Parte Calendar. On Wednesdays, I hear Fee Waiver petitions and the Trial Objections Calendar. I average almost three meetings a day with Court Staff, Supervising Judges, community leaders, Justice Partners in both civil and criminal courts, the Mayor’s Office, local bar associations and members of the Board of Supervisors. On Friday afternoons, I try to meet with students from high schools, colleges and law schools.
Q: In 2002, you were the first African American female to serve as a Superior Court Judge in San Francisco. What was your legal background?
A:
After graduating from Georgetown University Law School, I started my legal career in a small boutique litigation law firm in San Jose, California. Approximately one year later, I was hired as a Deputy District Attorney for the Office of the San Mateo District Attorney’s Office. Four years later, I joined the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office. I was an Assistant District Attorney for fourteen years where I held various managerial positions: Managing Attorney of Misdemeanor Trials, Managing Attorney of the Domestic Violence Unit, and Managing Attorney of the Homicide Division. I eventually joined the firm of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe. I was Of Counsel, and handled complex commercial litigation, trade secrets litigation, Prop. 65 cases, employment, and white collar defense. After almost six years, I was appointed to the Superior Court bench.
Q: You taught at the University of San Francisco School of Law and at UC Hastings School of Law. Do you still find time to teach? What type of courses did you, or do you teach?
A:
I am currently an Adjunct Law Professor at both the UC Hastings School of Law and the University of San Francisco Law School. In the fall, I teach trial advocacy at Hastings; and in the spring, at the University of San Francisco. For two years, 2010 and 2011, I taught trial advocacy and evidence. I absolutely love teaching at a law school. Every class I learn something new from my students. I am fortunate that the classes are only once a week and in the evenings, in order to give the students my full attention.
Q: You received your BA from UC Santa Cruz and your JD from Georgetown University. What personal experience(s) do you believe prepared you for your current leadership role?
A:
I started college at 16 years old. Needless to say I was fairly naive and unafraid. There were no challenges that I felt I could not conquer. I also realized that I needed mentors to help deal with challenges of school and life. When I attended Georgetown Law School, it was a total cultural shock. I was born and raised in San Francisco, and had never lived on the East Coast, away from my family and friends. It was my first experience living in heat and humidity and then the winter snows. Again, I learned the value of taking on challenges and developing relationships. Throughout college and law school, I learned from other individuals and new experiences. The mentorships were my guides and safety-nets. Overall, these experiences were invaluable and helped shape me as a person and in my legal career.
Q: What judicial experiences, committees or assignments do you believe helped to prepare you for your current leadership role?
A:
Certainly, my four years on the Judicial Council provided a wonderful experience to assist in the overall development of the California Judiciary. I enjoyed being a part of making the judicial system accessible to those individuals who did not have a voice or access. I was fortunate to be selected as one of sixteen judges to serve on Retired Chief Justice Ronald George the Riverside Trial Strike Force Team. I was one of sixteen active and retired judges reassigned to sit in Riverside. We were charged with eliminating over one thousand criminal case backlogs. I lived in Riverside for almost 6 months. We were able to eliminate the backlog in less than one year. This assignment allowed me the opportunity to work with judges from all over the State and to learn best practices to implement in trial courts. I have worked on various Judicial Advisory Committees and internal committees in my court. These committees afforded me the opportunity to develop the skill sets and knowledge necessary for a Presiding Judge.
Q: Tell us about your service on the Judicial Council as a voting member, and your advisory committee work.
A:
It was a wonderful experience to learn about Court operations from “thirty thousand” feet. Needless to say, it was a difficult time to serve, the State was in a recession and court funding was substantially reduced. There were some challenges and controversial issues confronting the judiciary. Overall, I would never trade the experience. I saw dedicated judicial officers and staff all working to ensure that the courts throughout the State were being heard and able to operate in providing access to justice. I watched the transition of judicial leadership from Retired Chief Justice Ronald George to the current Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye. I served on various committees at the Council. I visited various Courts and watched their operations. I was responsible for reporting back to the Council the needs and concerns of the Courts that I visited.
Q: Did you have access to mentors as a new judge? Do you believe that seeking a mentor is important?
A:
Absolutely, I was fortunate that many of my friends and former colleagues were on the bench when I was appointed. Mentorship is invaluable. In fact, I still have mentors and they have helped and guided me through many challenges as a Judge and Presiding Judge. The Judicial Council has a mentorship program for newly appointed council members. Retired Chief Justice Ronald George appointed the current Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye as my mentor on the Council -- at least for the year before she was elevated to the California Supreme Court, she was my mentor.
Q: What do you like to do when you are not on the bench?
A:
When I am not working, I am watching professional basketball. My twin nephews, Jason and Jarron Collins played in the NBA. In fact, Jarron Collins is the Assistant Coach for the Golden State Warriors. When I am not watching basketball, I am working out or walking every weekend with a group of friends whom I have known since elementary school. They are my base and my release mechanisms.
Q: Why did you join AAACJO? What else would you like to see AAACJO doing for its members and the community?
A:
I am active in various organizations that promote judicial independence and the development of a qualified diverse bench. Further, I am attracted to organizations that believe in community outreach and mentoring the next generation of judicial officers and individuals who want to work for the California Judicial System.
Q: We have AAACJO members who are Administrative Law Judges, a State Bar Court Judge, Superior Court Judges and Commissioners as well as Appellate Court Justices. As a history maker, do you have any encouraging thoughts to our members who are interested in seeking leadership positions?
A:
I strongly recommend that we sit as judges in various judicial assignments in both criminal and civil courts. We should be involved in the governance of the courts to ensure that the Courts are accessible and responsive to all parties and individuals who appear in our judicial system. I strongly recommend that judicial officers should be involved in community outreach. This will demystify the judicial process to the layperson. Finally, we should remain active in bar associations, and mentor law students and attorneys. I believe these are some of the traits needed to become a leader in the Courts.
