League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Santa Clara County, CA June 3, 2014 Election
	Julianne Sylva Answers Questions Candidate for Judge - Superior Court; County of Santa Clara; Office 21

The questions were prepared by the Leagues of Women Voters of Santa Clara County and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. As a judge, you may be called on to impose sentences for crimes ranging from misdemeanors to homicide. While there are sentencing parameters and guidelines, you will have latitude. What factors and principles/values will affect your decisions?

Justice for all means that in each individual case the judge must mete out justice tailored the specific case while also considering the impact on pubic safety and the rights of the victim. Only after carefully considering all of the factors in each case and hearing from both sides will I make my decision. I will follow our sentencing laws and yet be open to considering alternative sentences to allow low level offenders to receive necessary services to help prevent their return to criminality. I have taken my duty to protect our community seriously and would do so also as your judge.

2. Please describe your experience in civil and criminal cases.

I have been an attorney for over 24 years. My first year was in civil law and then I joined the District Attorney's Office where I have served you for the past 23 years. While most of my cases as a prosecutor have involved crimes, over the years I have worked in juvenile delinquency court, juvenile dependency court, family court, drug court, mental health court, truancy court and adult criminal court. Every assignment I have done has required me to learn a new area of the law. I anticipate that as your judge I would do the same, and I am eager to do so.

3. Would you propose any changes to assure that there is no appearance of bias in the courtroom including, but not limited to, bias based on disability, gender identity, age, race, religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation?

"Justice for all" means justice for all. As I have done in my duties as a prosecutor, as your judge I would work to ensure that there is no bias or appearance of bias in my court. A court must be a place where individuals feel that their disputes may be heard and decided in a manner that ensures that justice is achieved. This can only be accomplished if litigants see that justice is being done, on every case every day. I

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. Please answer each question in no more than 400 words. Direct references to opponents are not permitted.

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: May 11, 2014 12:33
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