2026 Judge Report Cards

PASS

Judge Alexandra Gordon PASS

Judge Gordon is highly esteemed. She earned the highest average survey rating of all judges evaluated, with a 4.9 score from trial attorneys who closely observe the courts.* She was highly rated in all categories including fairness/bias, knowledge of the law and judicial temperament. Nearly all attorney survey respondents indicated they would want to appear before her if there was an important trial on a serious crime.

Judge Julia Cervantes PASS

Despite the fact that she has been a judge less than a year, Judge Cervantes is well-respected. She earned a high average survey rating of 4.6 from trial attorneys who closely observe the courts. Her judicial temperament rating (4.7) was particularly high.

Judge Richard Darwin PASS

Judge Darwin earned a high average survey rating of 4.5 from trial attorneys who closely observe the courts. His ratings on fairness/bias (4.75) and judicial temperament (4.75) were very good.  

However, when defendant Daniel Cauitch was charged with burglary in 2021, Judge Darwin released the defendant prior to trial. He was assigned to Assertive Case Management and only required to wear an electronic monitoring device, despite prosecutors’ request that the defense’s motion for release be denied.

Two weeks later, Cauich was charged with attempted murder after stabbing 94 year old Ahn Taylor multiple times and. A repeat offender with a long criminal arrest record, he had facing allegations ranging from burglary and vandalism to murder (charges were dropped). He had previously been convicted on multiple burglary charges and served more than 100 days in jail plus probation. He was also one of three people arrested for a string of home burglaries in the North Beach neighborhood in which the thieves targeted bicycles, according to police.

Judge Eric Fleming      PASS     

Judge Fleming earned a high average survey rating of 4.5 from trial attorneys who closely observe the courts. His ratings on judicial temperament were particularly high.

Judge Kenneth Wine PASS

Judge Wine earned a high average survey rating of 4.4 from trial attorneys who closely observe the courts.* He received a perfect rating (5.0) for judicial temperament. However, our knowledgeable Court Watch volunteers sometimes saw another side of the judge, who is seen as too friendly with attorneys on both sides of the aisle, to the disadvantage of victims. For example, the judge released a defendant pretrial for an alleged robbery despite eight previous bench warrants for not showing up in court.

In another instance, a defendant brought along his six year-old to steal from a jewelry store but Judge Wine appeared to buy his argument that as the primary parental custodian, he had no choice. He also was released on his own recognizance (OR).  In yet a third case, a defendant with thirty previous charges, including felonies, didn't attend mandatory counseling but was still released pretrial on OR.

Judge Christine Van Aken  PASS

Judge Van Aken earned a high average survey rating of 4.4 from trial attorneys who closely observe the courts. Her scores on judicial temperament (4.8) and fairness (4.7) were particularly strong. When asked which judge they would want to appear before for an important trial on a serious crime, more than half of attorneys responding listed Judge Van Aken in their top three choices.

Judge Rochelle East PASS

Judge East earned a relatively high average survey rating of 4.3 from trial attorneys who closely observe the courts.*  She is ranked highly for her judicial temperament.

Judge Braden Woods  PASS

Judge Woods earned a relatively high average survey rating of 4.3 from trial attorneys who closely observe the courts.* He received a very high rating (4.8) for knowledge of the law. When asked which judge they would want to appear before for an important trial on a serious crime, several attorneys listed him among their top three choices.

Judge Brian Stretch PASS

Judge Stretch earned a relatively high average survey rating of 4.3 from trial attorneys who closely observe the courts.* He received a very high rating (4.9) for fairness.

Judge Harry Dorfman   PASS

Judge Dorfman earned a relatively high average survey rating of 4.1 from trial attorneys who closely observe the courts.* He is particularly admired for his knowledge of the law (4.5).

Judge Brendan Conroy  PASS

Judge Conroy earned an average survey rating of 3.3 from trial attorneys who closely observe the courts.* He received a high rating (4.5) for knowledge of the law.

Judge Michael McNaughton PASS

Judge McNaughton received an average rating of 3.0 from trial attorneys who closely observe the courts. He received a poor rating for judicial temperament (2.1) but a better score for knowledge of the law (3.3).

NOT EVALULATED

Some judges had served in office for a year or less when this evaluation began.  As such, we feel compelled to issue a grade of “Not Evaluated,” but it is no reflection on their abilities. Stop Crime’s emphasis is on public safety and criminal justice, so we offer no evaluation of judges whose primary focus has been on civil law or who have little exposure to criminal justice trial attorneys.  Similarly, a “Not Evaluated” grade is no reflection on their capabilities; they may be excellent judges; we just claim no expertise in this area. In certain egregious cases, we have taken notice of family law cases, as domestic violence and similar issues can be involved. Finally, we have not issued an evaluation of Judge Garrett L. Wong, as he has retired.

The following judges were not evaluated:

Judge Anne Costin      

Judge Maria Evangelista 

Judge Daniel Flores          

Judge Adrienne Rogers   

Judge Charles Haines        

Judge Ethan Schulman           

Judge Mary Wiss         

Judge Ai Mori                 

Judge Lianne Dumas

Judge Bobby Luna      

Judge John Echeverria             

Judge Dawn Payne