VISTA - Superior Court Judge Alejandro Morales has learned about judging from coaching children's baseball.
"Our thing is to foster a culture where you learn how to win and how to lose with grace and sportsmanship," Morales said.
Whether it's a tough day on the field or a challenging moment in court, Morales said he believes it is important to encourage perseverance and resilience. When his baseball team is losing, Morales gives a pep talk: "Hey, it wasn't our day. It happened. You made an error, shake it off. We need you for the next play,'" he tells his players.
"The objective is to raise good people with good values and to work with parents who foster the same philosophy," he said.
This kind of encouragement -- focused on learning from mistakes and moving forward -- is something Morales consistently applies in court too. That approach has been particularly useful in domestic violence cases. Morales monitors defendants' progress through mandated classes. When a defendant brings in a letter with a low rating for meeting class goals, instead of expressing disappointment, the judge engages them in a conversation about their kids and their reactions to school report cards.
"I tell them, 'You see? I need you to do that too. Follow your own advice,'" Morales said.
He then ensures that any commitment to improvement is noted in the court record, reinforcing accountability for their next appearance in 45 days.
Appointed to the San Diego County Superior Court by Gov. Gavin Newsom last year, Morales started out in a misdemeanor readiness department in Vista, where he handled domestic violence reviews and settlements. In one case, he sentenced a woman accused of misdemeanor manslaughter, in a car accident when a mother riding a bicycle with her baby was killed. The child survived.
Morales weighed the defendant's acceptance of responsibility against her history of prior traffic law violations. "The pattern has been clear to me: You have been a careless driver," the judge was quoted by the Coast News in Encinitas when he sentenced her to 90 days in jail plus 90 days of home detention.
Recently, Morales moved to a felony readiness department, where he continues to oversee cases involving mental health diversion, drug court reviews and motions to suppress evidence. "Before they go to trial, you meet with the attorneys in chambers," he said. "They tell you about the case, you get the offer. You try to encourage settlement if you can. Sometimes you just have to go to your hearing and continue fighting the case."
Morales' journey to the bench is a story shaped by his experiences on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.
Born to Mexican immigrant parents, he was sent at 5 to Durango, Mexico, where his mother believed he and his siblings would receive a better education and avoid the gang influences in Los Angeles. It was there that Morales said he first found inspiration in his uncle, a trial lawyer. "I would see my uncle in action, and it was cool," he recalled.
Encouraged by his mother and an aunt, who noticed his natural talent for debate, the idea of becoming a lawyer began to take root. Although Morales and his brothers returned to the U.S. for holidays, his longing to settle permanently grew stronger over time. That wish was fulfilled when he began sixth grade in Paramount, in Los Angeles County.
Initially drawn to immigration law, he studied political science at UC Irvine. But after he graduated from the University of San Diego School of Law, he took a job in the county public defender's office and later the office of the alternate public defender.
"I never thought I would be a public defender," Morales said.
Originally, he thought he might become a prosecutor, but he said his perspective shifted as he reflected on his own experiences as a Latino with law enforcement and the legal system. He said he began to see the importance of defending those who could not defend themselves, especially considering how criminal convictions could impact someone's immigration status.
As a criminal defense lawyer, Morales said he was frequently asked: "How can you represent the guilty?"
His answer was that everyone deserved to have their legal rights defended in the adversarial system. It's a message he also carried to his clients.
"I'm not making any judgments," Morales said he would tell them. "I just want to make sure you understand your rights, and this is what you want to do."
As a judge, Morales said he is particularly focused on cases involving younger defendants, and he tries to tailor judicial diversion programs to their specific circumstances. He might assign tasks like writing essays on their goals, bringing in school transcripts or applying for jobs, emphasizing the importance of taking steps to avoid future legal trouble. He said he believes in rehabilitation and sees the court as a place where people can be guided toward better choices rather than simply punished.
"I like to be engaged," he said, "and I like to explain my decisions, not just dismiss arguments."
That approach has drawn plaudits from the attorneys who appear before him.
"Judge Morales has a great judicial temperament and treats everyone in the courtroom with respect, including the attorneys, staff, and more importantly, our clients," says Luis A. Jimenez of Dod Law.
Vista's Rafael Acosta Jr., a veteran criminal defense attorney who has known Morales for many years, echoed this sentiment.
"His approach then, as now, is well balanced and methodical," Acosta wrote in an email. "His questions during proceedings are often pointed and reveal a deep understanding of the issues before the court. He is not easily swayed by emotional appeals, but he is mindful of a defendant's life circumstances when appropriate."
Morales' rulings are grounded in solid legal reasoning, Acosta said. "He is known to hold attorneys to a high standard, and those who appear unprepared will find themselves at a disadvantage. Overall, Judge Morales' courtroom is one where professionalism, preparation and respect for the judicial process are paramount."
Off the bench, Morales said he and his wife, a teacher, are raising teenage sons, and he is actively involved in their lives, coaching baseball -- a sport the family is passionate about.
Here are some of Judge Morales' recent cases and the attorneys involved:
People v. Netter, CN448885 - domestic battery
For the prosecution: Amanda M. Perez, district attorney's office
For the defense: Timothy Sirota, public defender's office
People v. Guadagnino, CN447908 - domestic battery, false imprisonment
For the prosecution: Nicholas Fennell, district attorney's office
For the defense: James N. Dicks, JD Law Criminal Defense Attorneys
People v. Rodriguez, CN457533 - driving or taking vehicle without consent
For the prosecution: Lyndsie J. Rodelo, district attorney's office
For the defense: Mark C. Davis, public defender's office
People v. Sirivisut, CN409512 - early termination of probation, expungement
For the prosecution: Mark G. Bosch, district attorney's office
For the defense: William R. Christoph, Vista
People v. Stinson, SCN450137 - burglary
For the prosecution: Dean C. Vescera, district attorney's office
For the defense: Joseph A. Hallare, public defender's office