“The way [the judge] talked to the Black people and the Mexicans: it was disgusting.”

Excerpt from Stephen, a defendant in the Palo Alto Courthouse in summer 2023

Stephen: Well, for one, like, I think it sounds bad to say, but I’m super glad that I’m White. That helps a lot. Especially here. The judge that I have right now, I’ve seen him last time, and he’s like super White, backwoods, redneck, and you can tell. And just from talking, like, where the inmates were sitting. Like, I was in custody last time when I came. And we all sit in this little like—in the juror booth, right. Like, and wait for them to call on us. And the way he talked to the Black people and the Mexicans: it was disgusting. And when he came to me—there’s like three White people in there, he treated … “How are you, how’s your day going, how’s the jail treating you?” Didn’t say any of that to the others. [chuckles] I was like, “Oh my god, dude.” It made me feel so uncomfortable. But I’m also grateful. And then when we all stood up to leave, he like looked at—and he said, “Mr. [redacted], have a great—enjoy the rest of your day.” […]