The contested race for a seat on the San Francisco Superior Court bench pits occasionally controversial Judge Thomas Mellon against termed-out Supervisor Gerardo Sandoval and prosecutor-turned-PD-turned-solo Mary Mallen. Voters will have to weigh the candidates — here’s our coverage.
But Mallen said that knowing the criminal justice system from both sides helps her anticipate people’s bottom-line concerns in court. She’s confident that as a judge she’ll dependably resolve cases that don’t need to go to trial.
“Knowing the system the way I do, I can identify those cases right away,” she said. “I would be able to recognize what an unmanageable offer is.”
Contrasting herself with her two opponents, Mallen said her bout with cancer left her with the ability to keep calm and manage her temper, and that she will be an impartial judge focused solely on enforcing the law.
“When you put on the black robe, you’re not a Republican, you’re not a Democrat,” she said. “It’s not relevant what your race is, it’s not relevant what your gender is . . . and you need to be willing to leave all your political affiliations behind.”
