For the third time in just 18 months, a San Joaquin College of Law Alumni has been added to the California Board of Parole Hearings as an Administrative Law Judge. Hon. Ashley Allred (Law ’11) joins Hon. Christine Nijjer (Law ‘04) and Hon. Mary Thornton (Law ‘08) on the bench, bringing the total number of San Joaquin College of Law bench officers to 51.
Aside from having their new positions in common, the trio share a common history as well; they all served as Madera County Deputy District Attorneys at some point in their careers.
At just 34 years of age, Judge Allred is perhaps the youngest SJCL alum to attain a position on the bench. She served an internship with the Public Defender’s Office during law school, but soon moved to an internship with the Madera D.A. She was hired there as a Deputy D. A. just weeks after passing the bar. Part of her duties included representing the District Attorney’s Office at “Lifer Hearings,” which are held inside prisons and determine whether an inmate with a life sentence merits parole (this would not apply to a “life without parole” sentence).
She says she absolutely loved it, adding “There’s something wonderful about the government serving the public through the criminal justice system. And I believe in that system.”
The Parole Board is trying to handle a larger load due to passage of Prop 57, which gave more discretion to the Board. In the past, parole focused heavily on the gravity of the crime, but the focus is now shifting to whether an inmate has been rehabilitated. Judge Nijjer observes that those who show little remorse or understanding of the crime’s impact on victims will likely be denied parole and not have another hearing for at least three years.