Jeff Hammerschmidt, Criminal Defense Attorney and Candidate for Fresno County Superior Court Judge

Judicial elections are some of the hardest races to vote in — nonpartisan, low-information, and easy to skip. In this episode, Jordan Mattox sits down with Jeff Hammerschmidt, a candidate for Fresno County Superior Court judge, to cut through that and get at how he actually thinks.

A former Fresno DA prosecutor turned criminal defense attorney, Jeff brings experience from nearly every seat in the courtroom. Jordan and Jeff dig into what really separates a superior court judge from the law-making justices we see on TV, why a consistent temperament matters more than any single courtroom style, and what "following the law" means in the fact-specific, human moments where a judge still has real discretion.

Along the way: judicial and mental health diversion, juvenile justice and Prop 57, court backlogs and respecting people's time, the judges who shaped his sense of the craft, and a few stories from the DA's office that reveal how he weighs a close call. Plus the usual — his favorite Fresno spots and a couple of book recommendations to send you off.

This is also a companion to our conversation with Jeff's opponent, Jose Salazar — listen to both to hear how the two candidates approach the same questions and decide for yourself which one fits the bench you want.

To learn more about the candidate, search "Jeff Hammerschmidt for Judge."