Voting for judicial candidates in local elections matters. Local judges make decisions that affect everyday life directly, from traffic tickets and misdemeanor cases to child custody, divorce and civil disputes.
It also matters because judicial races often get less attention than other contests. Informed voting helps make sure the people choosing judges understand their qualifications, fairness and temperament.
Fifteen candidates are running for Judicial seats in the Fresno County June 2 primary election. The Community Alliance asked local, progressive attorneys for their recommendations to help our readers understand who is running and who they think are best suited for the job. They all gave insightful recommendations.
“This is an opportunity to create a major shift in who our judicial officers are—finally!” said a well-respected local attorney who asked not to be identified. Her personal picks:
Rosalina Nuñez
Deidre Adams
Jose Salazar
Daniel Brickey
Eddie Ruiz
Jennifer Smith
Jamie Xiong-Vang
Another well-respected local attorney said she was not familiar with all of the candidates other than what has been reported about them or published through their campaigns. “Based on that information, I anticipate voting for Rosalina Nuñez, Deidre Adams and Jamie Xiong-Vang,” she said.
She added that she feels “encouraged” that many candidates have backgrounds reflecting the diverse range of county residents. Among those running are “public defenders, women, people of color [and people who] have family ties to immigrants and refugees in Fresno.”
Chris Schneider, a labor and civil rights attorney, told us, “I met Jamie Xiong-Vang when she was a law student and hired her several times at CCLS (Central California Legal Services).”
Howard Watkins, a retired Fresno attorney who has since moved to Southern California to be closer to family, recommends “Jeff Hammerschmidt, Jennifer Smith and Jamie Xiong-Vang.”
Local judges usually handle cases most community members are likely to encounter, and their decisions can shape whether people feel treated fairly in court. They are supposed to apply the law impartially, making qualities such as integrity, independence and good judgment especially important when you vote.
