San Francisco's Young Adult Court Gets New Leader

Former police officer and prosecutor Eric Fleming takes over the closely watched program focused on rehabilitation over punishment.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 1:06am by Ben Kaplan

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An extreme close-up photograph of a wooden gavel against a pitch-black background, the harsh flash lighting creating dramatic shadows and textures that convey a sense of gravity and seriousness around the judicial process.The passing of the gavel to a new leader signals a continued commitment to rehabilitation in San Francisco's Young Adult Court.San Francisco Today

Eric Fleming, a former police officer and prosecutor, has been appointed as the new leader of San Francisco's Young Adult Court, a pioneering program that blends accountability with services like education, job training and counseling for defendants aged 18 to 25. The goal is to reduce repeat offenses during a critical stage of brain development.

Why it matters

The Young Adult Court model has been replicated across the country after San Francisco launched the first-of-its-kind program about a decade ago. It represents a shift in the criminal justice system towards a more rehabilitative approach, especially for young adults who are still developing cognitively and emotionally.

The details

Before becoming a judge, Fleming was a Los Angeles police officer who had a pivotal moment where he hesitated to shoot an armed 14-year-old, leading him to reevaluate his career. He then went to law school, became a prosecutor in San Francisco, and is now presiding over the Young Adult Court. The program holds participants accountable through strict rules and regular check-ins, but also provides services aimed at reducing recidivism.

  • The Young Adult Court program was launched in San Francisco in 2015.
  • Judge Bruce Chan, who helped establish the court, is set to retire this year, leading to the passing of the gavel to Judge Eric Fleming.

The players

Eric Fleming

The new leader of San Francisco's Young Adult Court, Fleming is a former police officer and prosecutor who now presides over the pioneering program focused on rehabilitation over punishment for young adult defendants.

Bruce Chan

The first judge of San Francisco's Young Adult Court, who helped launch the program in 2015 and is set to retire this year, passing the gavel to Judge Eric Fleming.

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What they’re saying

“As an African American, one of the things you should try to do is to get in a position where you can help your community.”

— Eric Fleming, Judge, San Francisco Young Adult Court

“Not only is it good science, it's also good public policy, and it's good for public safety.”

— Bruce Chan, Former Judge, San Francisco Young Adult Court

What’s next

Judge Eric Fleming will continue to oversee the San Francisco Young Adult Court, building on the program's success and exploring ways to further improve outcomes for young adult defendants.

The takeaway

The appointment of Judge Eric Fleming, a former police officer and prosecutor, to lead San Francisco's pioneering Young Adult Court signals a continued commitment to a more rehabilitative approach in the criminal justice system, especially for young adults who are still developing cognitively and emotionally.