Judge Braden Woods was compelled to accept a challenge disqualifying him from a case today, following accusations of sexualized comments and hostile behavior made by multiple female public defenders.
Deputy Public Defender Diamond Ward, one of the accusers, initiated a challenge on May 29, requesting Woods to recuse himself from her case based on her past experiences in his courtroom.
Ward alleges that Woods has berated and humiliated her in front of clients, creating a toxic environment that she described as consistently hostile.
In a crowded courtroom filled with observers, Woods initially rejected Ward’s challenge, as many had expected.
However, following her rejection, Ward made a second peremptory challenge, which typically requires no reason and can only be used once.
“I’ve never had a positive experience with him — it’s always been hostile,” Ward stated after the hearing.
“Every time I’ve appeared in front of him, he often is yelling and screaming for things that he would not say to men and other women that are not of color.”
Both Ward and Woods are Black, but Ward described instances where Woods made comments about her appearance, stating, “When you don’t accept his advances, that’s when he penalizes you.
And I shouldn’t have to work in an environment where I’m subjected to that.”
The allegations against Woods, which were first reported by Mission Local, include complaints that date back to between 2018 and 2021 but were only made public recently.
In 2021, Woods was named in a formal complaint to the Commission on Judicial Performance and was also the subject of collective grievances from two dozen public defenders addressed to the presiding judges of the San Francisco Superior Court.
Following these complaints, Woods was quietly reassigned to the Civic Center Courthouse, where he has since been handling lower-level cases.
Despite the reassignment, attorneys have begun appearing in Woods’ courtroom again, creating tension for those who have previously avoided him.
Ward had not faced Woods since 2021 but was recently assigned to his courtroom, where she felt intimidated by him.
During their encounter, Woods reportedly stared at her angrily and took several minutes in open court to decide if he would accept her peremptory challenge, which is generally automatic.
“I felt intimidated and scared,” she expressed in a statement regarding that experience.
Kathleen Natividad, another accuser of Woods, highlighted the impact that these challenges have on defendants, noting that such delays violate their right to a speedy trial.
“I have, like, PTSD right now,” Natividad admitted, joining a group of supporters that had gathered in the hallway following the hearing.
Although Ward appeared relieved by today’s developments, there remains uncertainty about future courtroom assignments.
She stated that if reassigned to Woods’ courtroom again, she would continue to file challenges.
“I will not do a trial in front of him — or any hearing,” Ward confirmed.
The Superior Court has declined to comment on the ongoing situation, and attempts to reach Woods through associated phone numbers have gone unanswered, as judges are generally prohibited from speaking to the media.
image source from：https://missionlocal.org/2025/06/sf-judge-braden-woods-accused-sexism-female-attorneys-challenged/
