Jan. 22, 2026
Justice as the pursuit of the truth
After nearly 20 years as a lawyer and 13 as a judge, finding the truth in court remains a challenge amid flawed evidence, human bias and digital threats, yet the legal system's rules and ethics help guide justice.
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On my bench is a quote that guides me as I preside over
criminal and civil trials: "Our courts are not gambling halls but forums for
the discovery of the truth." (People v. St. Martin (1970) 1 Cal.3d 524,
533.) After almost 20 years of trial practice and over 13 years as a judge, I
often wonder how close we come to that pursuit.
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