Superior Court Judge

 = Organizations endorsing candidate
 = Organizations endorsing others
 See all tracked endorsements

Paul Henderson has served for the past five years as deputy chief of staff of public safety for Mayor Ed Lee. His job has been “to advise the Mayor on a variety of topics and to develop and implement policy across a broad range of issues affecting San Francisco,” his website states. He “supports the administration of various City departments, providing direct support to the Mayor, with a particular emphasis on the criminal justice system and cooperation with and between local, State and Federal partners.”

He previously worked in the District Attorney’s office as trial attorney, co-manager and then chief of administration under then-District Attorney Kamala Harris. As trial prosecutor he worked every type of case in the criminal justice system, from nonviolent misdemeanors to serious felonies, including homicide, and won dozens of trials. The Bar Association of San Francisco rated him “well-qualified” for judge on the Superior Court, where he has experience serving temporarily in criminal cases. Henderson earned his undergraduate degree from UCLA before obtaining his law degree at Tulane University, where he was his class president.

“My experiences over a lifetime of service to San Francisco will give me a unique perspective as judge. Raised by my grandmother in Bayview-Hunters Point, I’ve witnessed the devastation of crime firsthand,” he said in his official candidate statement. “My commitment to civil rights and providing justice to communities like the one I come from led me to become a prosecutor.”

Henderson said that if elected he “will work tirelessly to make our city safer and will always remember the judicial obligation to treat all our residents equally, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status. I bring a diverse perspective as a gay, black man. I believe deeply in the right of a strong defense for the accused, while remaining profoundly committed to ensuring victims’ voices are loudly heard.”

 = Organizations endorsing candidate
 = Organizations endorsing others
 See all tracked endorsements

Victor Hwang is a civil rights attorney who began his career in 1992 as a public defender in Los Angeles, where he earned a law degree from the University of Southern California after undergrad work at UC Berkeley. He returned to San Francisco in 1996, spent four years with the Asian Law Caucus, and in 2001 joined Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach to help survivors of domestic violence, elder abuse and human trafficking.

Hwang then worked at the San Francisco District Attorney’s office from 2007-2014, serving as deputy district attorney in charge of prosecuting hate crimes and human trafficking. He left the DA’s office to return to the Asian Pacific Islanders Legal Outreach as deputy director.

His website states that because of his experience with criminal law, civil rights, family law, immigration, elder law and public benefits, he has “an enhanced understanding of the intersections in areas of law that affect all communities — from small business owners to disenfranchised communities.”

The Bar Association of San Francisco rated him “exceptionally well-qualified” for Superior Court judge, the first judicial candidate in 20 years to receive the group’s highest rating.

“Having tried 100 cases as both a former prosecutor and public defender, I bring balance and experience to the bench,” Hwang said in his candidate statement. “As judge, I will make sure that everyone is treated equally, with dignity and respect.”

Our methodology

The Public Press chose to count endorsements from organizations that backed multiple candidates or ballot measures, and that made those endorsements available online. We did not count endorsements from individuals.

Some organizations endorsed a first and second choice for candidates in some races. Those preferences are not represented here.

If you think we missed an important organization, please tell us. We’d love to hear from you.

Tracked Endorsements by Organization


Published: Oct. 18, 2016


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