The judicial misconduct hearing for Salinas Judge Jose Velasquez wrapped up in San Jose on Wednesday with his attorneys seeking to portray their client as a pillar of the Latino community who has had to work in difficult conditions. Led by attorney James Murphy, Velasquez's defense team split its witness list between longtime friends, who spoke about the judge's community service and importance as a role model, and attorneys who testified about his decorum and fairness in the courtroom. The defense also focused on the challenges that Velasquez faced while maintaining a heavy workload during the lengthy renovation of the courthouse, which has included asbestos removal. Velasquez is accused by the state Commission on Judicial Performance of abusing his judicial power by denying defendants' due process rights, punishing them for speaking out in court with tougher sentences, failing to notify defendants' that they could plead not guilty, issuing arrest warrants for attorneys who failed to show up in court on time, and using inappropriate humor, among other charges.