Maria Hernandez, Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of Orange County, California

Maria Hernandez is the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of Orange County, California. She shares her journey to the bench from a career as a public defender, and her new role as presiding judge of one of the country's largest trial courts. She describes the challenges her court met during COVID-19, which led to virtual and hybrid court hearings which continue to improve people’s access to the justice system, and the broader role that presiding judges play in administering justice.