By Rachel Swan
Daily Journal Staff Writer
MARTINEZ - Contra Costa County Superior Court Judge Steven K. Austin has a blue-collar background and a plainspoken style. A handmade name placard in his office describes him as "Stone Cold Judge Austin."
Attorneys say his upbringing and manner help him deal with the changing social conditions in his Martinez courtroom. With the recent foreclosure crisis, compounded by a sagging economy, Austin has seen... (continued)
