Many years ago, I served on a jury. I was transfixed by how smoothly the court operated. Every person involved appeared to be at the top of their game. However, most impressive to me was the judge. As a student of how people think, I couldn't believe how quickly and precisely the judge was able to render complex decisions. I was also awestruck by the incredible presence and attention the job requires for long periods of time. To this day, I consider the cognitive skills required for a judge to be a superpower.

So, dear listener, I felt compelled to interview a judge to learn more about how they think. And you are about to listen to a true great!

The Honorable Judge Julia Alloggiamento has served on the Bench for nearly a decade after she was elected in 2010 and was sworn in to Santa Clara County Superior Court in 2011. She has presided over misdemeanors, drug treatment court, and felony criminal trials.

In addition to being an extremely learned and thoughtful person, Julia strikes me as an exemplar of humility, kindness, and integrity.

So, listen in as Julia and I explore what it takes to be a judge and how a judge thinks.