Stanislaus County (Modesto)
As a former prosecutor in the special victims unit for the Stanislaus County district attorney's office, Judge Annette E. Rees said she was dedicated to protecting women and children.
"It's not a unit that a lot of prosecutors look forward to, but for me it really felt like a calling," she said. "I felt like these were very vulnerable victims, and I wanted to handle those cases and advocate for their side. It was emotionally cha... (continued)