Storey has the best judgment to serve on Superior Court

Santa Clara County voters will decide which of two candidates will serve as a Santa Clara County Superior Court judge if Judge Aaron Persky is recalled on June 5.

It can be difficult for voters to determine who would make a better judge. The judicial code understandably prevents them from talking about how they would rule in cases, keeping the public from gaining insights into how they might perform as judges.

Two qualified candidates — San Jose civil attorney Angela Storey and prosecutor Cindy Hendrickson — are running for the seat.

We recommend Storey to voters.

Storey is thoughtful and well-regarded by the judicial community. Her temperament and experience in both civil and criminal litigation will serve her well on the bench. Storey also has had the benefit of serving as a temporary judge in small claims court and judicial arbitrator for the county’s Superior Court, giving her an edge over her opponent. In that job she has proven herself to be a strong listener willing to both bend over backward to reach the right decision and also take the time to make sure those before her understand the legal reasoning behind her rulings.

Storey is a lifelong resident of the Bay Area who has a degree in international economics from UCLA. She graduated from law school at Santa Clara University and was admitted to the State Bar of California in 2001. She and her husband run their own law practice, giving her experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in civil cases. She was also president of the Santa Clara County Trial Lawyers Association, further demonstrating her commitment to protecting the rights of the public.

Storey, a rape victim herself, opposes the recall of Persky, while Hendrickson supports it.

Hendrickson is an assistant district attorney on DA Jeff Rosen’s executive team, overseeing the office’s Family Violence Unit. She has a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and graduated from UCLA’s law school. She was a civil litigator until joining the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office in 1995, giving her 23 years of experience as a prosecutor.

Hendrickson has a unusual background as the daughter of parents who raised 11 children, including five adopted siblings. The experience of growing up in a multiracial family provide her insights into people from all walks of life. But she has not built a strong reputation in legal circles for her judgment, legal acumen or trial ability.

Should the recall succeed, Santa Clara County voters should take care to elect someone as Superior Court judge who has both the judicial temperament and judgment to make fair decisions on a wide range of issues. We recommend Angela Storey to voters in the June 5 election.