Debi Johnson, his court reporter the past six years, said he’s the only judge she knows of who hits the gavel in open court .

Hodgman believes more people could learn how important it is to listen to their intuitions when making tough decisions. In other words: There is a judge inside each of us, ready to strike the gavel.

U.S. District Judge Cynthia Bashant took over as chief judge of the Southern District of California on Wednesday evening during a passing of the gavel ceremony with her predecessor, District Judge ...