With emotion, judge accepts diversion request for UCSC student charged in 2024 pro-Palestine encampment raid

Lookout Santa Cruz ^ | December 5, 2025 | BY HILLARY OJEDA

[artichokegrower]

Superior Court Judge Mandy Tovar surprised herself, and a Santa Cruz courtroom, when she became emotional Thursday as she explained her decision to grant diversion to a UC Santa Cruz student protester who faces charges of remaining at a riot and resisting an officer.

[artichokegrower]

Tovar, whom Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed as a judge in September, said she was granting Hurtado’s request for diversion because of the facts of the case and that she was “impressed” by the more than 16 letters of support describing Hurtado’s character.

As a former student protester herself, Tovar also said that she understands what it’s like to be a university student at protests, as she choked up.

This woman should not be a judge. If she agrees with the crime being committed then the accused is innocent

[Governor Dinwiddie]

#1: "This woman should not be a judge."

You've got that right. "Mandy" is a douche.

In general, there are few women who make good judges. Texas Judge Raquel West is an
exception. Raquel was elected as a Democrat, but she switched parties to Republican.

You can find Raquel West's courtroom hearings on Youtube.

[Ciaphas Cain]

Increasingly, I read some suggesting that women should not be judges or elected officials. They are too emotional, it is argued.

Stories like this make me inclined to believe that there is merit to that line of thinking.

[wjcsux]

“In general, there are few women who make good judges. ”

We need more women on the bench like Janine Pirro.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

Yes, Jeanine Pirro is an ace. Top notch.

[55Ford]

Esmeralda Hurtado: the Perp:

[55Ford]

Judge Mandy Tovar:

[oldplayer]

Oh! My gosh!

[55Ford]

Esmeralda Hurtado , the Perp.

[dadgum]

Remove her.

She admits she sides with lawbreakers because she too was a student “protester”. She admits that her emotions cloud her ability to think critically.

[Secret Agent Man]

Proving again women (and men who act like women) should not be in these kinds of authority positions.

[wjcsux]

I spelled her first name wrong, sorry Jeanine. Yep, I would not want to be in front of her if I broke the law.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

She's doing a great job now as Federal Attorney for the District of Columbia. Saw her doing a press conference yesterday (or the day before).

[wjcsux]

“She’s doing a great job now as Federal Attorney for the District of Columbia. Saw her doing a press conference yesterday (or the day before).”
Jeanine is the last person who the RATS wanted in that position for very obvious reasons. She’s doing a really awesome job for sure.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

You don't get many of her to the pound.

[lee martell]

Chubellina de Gordita!

[VanShuyten]

Sounds like time for federal charges against both this guy and the Kali judge.

[Albion Wilde]

Feelings instead of facts. Emotionality and ideology instead of fidelity to the law. Personal preference instead of blind justice.

[BigFreakinToad]

It’s Kalifornia, so did anyone else expect anything else?

[Bon of Babble]

Tovar, whom Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed as a judge

Remember this for the 2028 elections - a President Newsom would be happy to appoint this judge and others of her ilk - all the way up to POTUS.