Judge Craig Mitchell (Addiction on Skid Row, Healing Through Running and Lowering Recidivism) - Episode 493
Behind The Shield
James Geering
4.9 • 695 Ratings
🗓️ 31 January 2026
⏱️ 73 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Craig Mitchell is the founder of the Skid Row Running Club which is featured in the documentary Skid Row Marathon. Founded in 2012, The Skid Row Running Club provides a running program for the Skid Row Community of Los Angeles and involves the larger community in supporting its members in overcoming alcohol/drug abuse and achieving positive life goals.
It all began when a young man he had previously sentenced to prison, Roderick Brown, contacted him through the Midnight Mission. “For some reason he decided he liked the way I treated him, even though I sent him to prison,” Mitchell says. “He looked me up and introduced me to The Mission.”
As soon as Mitchell got there, he decided the best way to reach the people was through running. “There are so many little things that emanate from this very basic idea of just running,” he says.
Mitchell had been running for about 15 years when he started the club. He ran his first race because he was asked by his boss at the District Attorney’s Office to run a relay. It was too early in his career to say no, so he joined the team. It was a blessing—he’s a runner to the core now, even when he’s in the courtroom.
Under the black robe he wears on the bench, Mitchell is in a shirt and tie as you’d expect. But below the belt he’s in just his running shorts and shoes—he likes to change out of his robe quickly to maximize the time of his lunchtime run. -- Runner's World, Liam Boylan-Pett
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This episode is sponsored by 511, a company that I've used for well over a decade and continue to use to this day. |
| 0:07.3 | And 511 is offering you guys the audience of the Behind the Shield podcast a discount on every purchase you make with them. |
| 0:14.4 | Before we get to that code, I want to highlight a couple of products that, again, I personally use today. |
| 0:19.7 | One of the most impressive products they just |
| 0:22.6 | released is their Rush Backpack 2.0. Now, for many of you, whether you're going to the fire |
| 0:28.0 | station, the police station, whether you're traveling, with your family, whether you're taking |
| 0:31.6 | training courses, we have to fly, we have to drive, we have to take trains. And I have to say, |
| 0:37.3 | I own multiple backpacks, |
| 0:38.9 | many of 5-11s, different ones, but as far as a day pack, this one was the most impressive. |
| 0:44.3 | There are so many different compartments. The way it sits on your back is incredibly comfortable. |
| 0:49.1 | If you are a concealed carry person, there's also a spot for a weapon. So they've thought of multiple, multiple |
| 0:55.5 | things that a man or woman would have to do on a daily basis. That is in addition to all of the |
| 1:01.0 | products that I talk about a lot. Their uniforms fit for men or fit for women in the first responder |
| 1:07.4 | professions. The footwear that they offer, whether it's the Norris sneaker or the |
| 1:11.5 | Atlas system that is designed for foot health and therefore knees and back and hips and shoulders |
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| 1:22.3 | squat down in them. We live in Florida here, so I wear a lot of their shorts, which again, very, |
| 1:27.4 | very lightweight material. |
| 1:28.3 | You can get it wet and it will dry almost immediately. |
| 1:31.3 | And then moving to the fitness and tactical space, I used to have just a regular weight vest. |
| 1:36.3 | Recently I switched to a 511 vest and actually bought ballistic plates as well. |
| 1:40.3 | My thinking was simply, if I'm going to have a, why not I have one that protects me as well. |
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