Reader: McLaughlin inspires others

Born and raised on the North Coast, I come from a long line of residents from both Del Norte and Humboldt counties. While visiting home on summer break from college in 2015, I had the privilege to intern for Ben McLaughlin while he was a public defender. There is no doubt in my mind that he inspired me to pursue a career in the legal profession, and more specifically, in public defense. Immediately, I was impressed with Ben’s intelligence, fair-mindedness, and legal acumen, also with Ben’s ability to objectively view cases from both sides while simultaneously preparing a vigorous defense for his client. These attributes are what solidify my belief that Ben is an ideal candidate for Superior Court Judge.

Professionally, as a Santa Clara County deputy public defender, I interact daily with the bench and have gained insight into what differentiates great judges from mediocre ones:

• Attributes such as impartiality, fair-mindedness, objectivity, and intelligence.

• The ability to appreciate and enforce the complexities of law while not allowing them to bog down the legal system.

• The ability to see the bigger picture.

• The ability to balance the interests of our society against the constitutional rights of the individual.

Through Ben’s experience in civil litigation, prosecution, and in public defense, the legal system in Humboldt County is in the most well-equipped hands with Ben at the helm, and I wholeheartedly endorse his candidacy for Superior Court Judge.

— Dalton Bradbury, San Francisco