ou've done very well, so I'll give you a star today and you'll come back on Nov. 7," the judge told the defendant.
That's not what one generally hears in a criminal courtroom. But this is no ordinary court.
It is San Francisco's domestic violence court, where Superior Court Judge Julie Tang spends most mornings monitoring the progress -- with counseling and other programs -- of husbands and boyfriends charged with physically abusing their partners.
During afternoon sessions, Tang conducts drug court for those charged with controlled substance offenses, who are sent to treatment instead of jail to clean up their lives.
The two courts are a good fit for the one-time college counselor, whose judicial approach is more rehabilitative than punitive.
"If you like people, it's the kind of court you want to work in," Tang said Monday during an interview in chambers. "You're not just the woman in the black robe on the bench."
For lawyers who practice in her court, Tang has the right stuff to handle both prickly DV and hard drug cases. Born in Hong Kong, Tang came to the states as a teen and received degrees in psychology and education from Stanford University and the University of San Francisco.
She was a deputy DA for eight years before being elected to the municipal court in 1990, and spent several years handling misdemeanor trials in the Hall of Justice before taking over the specialty courts.
"She's as tough-minded as any of the judges," said defense attorney George Beckwith. "I've seen her drop the hammer on guys who come up with bullshit excuses.! . . . She also shows genuine compassion for people who are working in programs."
Assistant District Attorney Cadio Zirpoli said Tang took on two difficult areas with DV and drugs, but has shown a knack for dealing with those who come before her.
"She cares for the safety and well-being of the victims," Zirpoli said, "and she shows compassion for the defendants and gets them into programs."
Assistant DA Anthony Brass, who has tried cases before Tang, said she is good at handling attorneys and forging settlements. "She has a way of intervening and taking the lawyers' egos out of it," Brass said. His advice to lawyers is "to be prepared and to be polite. She's courteous and expects the same."
Defense attorney Donald Bergerson called Tang's DV court strategy a "holistic approach" to calm the fury between two people. "I think she wants to preserve families," Bergerson said. "She wants to make sure for battling spouses that there's a way out through some sacrifice and maybe some embarrassment for both sides."
Tang sees a "crossover" effect from the drug to the domestic violence court. Often an abusive man also has a substance abuse or alcohol problem. She has to deal with one to solve the other.
Tang emphasizes that she speaks to about 60 people a day, judge-to-defendant and usually without the lawyer in between. "This is a chance for a judge to pull aside the veil of secrecy. It really has an impact on them," she said.
Back in DV court, the judge reviews the progress report of a man accused of domestic violence who has been going to group counseling. He tells the judge he now gets it.
"I realized I was the problem," the man tells the delighted judge. She smiles and nods, then using her two index fingers draws an imaginary star in the air and awards it to the person. But she wants to hear more in 60 days.
