I felt optimistic because Melinda had told me the judge was left-leaning. As a college student, I naively correlated liberalism with intelligence and empathy, because at the time I paid no taxes and only associated my politics with gay rights, women’s rights, human rights.I thought any judge who voted Democrat would side with the victims—not yet realizing that in a country where the imprisoned population is predominantly made up of poor people, black people, and the mentally ill, criminals are also victims. Hence, liberalism in the courtroom hinges first and foremost on second chances for the guilty.