2016 Judicial Elections California8 min read
In the November 2016 general election, Californians will vote on seven state Supreme Court seats and all 120 seats on the state’s lower courts.
The California Supreme Court is the state’s highest court. It has seven justices who are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments. They serve 12-year terms.
The lower courts are the state’s court of general jurisdiction. They include the trial courts, which hear civil and criminal cases, and the appellate courts, which hear appeals from the trial courts. There are 58 trial courts and six appellate courts.
There are three seats on the California Supreme Court up for election in November 2016. The incumbents are Justice Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar, Justice Kathryn Mickle Werdegar, and Justice Ming W. Chin. Werdegar is retiring, and Cuéllar and Chin are up for reelection.
There are also four seats on the California Court of Appeal up for election. The incumbents are Justice Steven C. Zottla, Presiding Justice Judith A. Ashmann-Gerst, Justice Elwood Lui, and Justice Kathleen K. O’Leary. Zottla, Ashmann-Gerst, and Lui are up for reelection, and O’Leary is retiring.
There are also 73 seats on the Superior Court up for election. The incumbents are Judge David A. Flinn, Judge Kimberly A. Colwell, Judge Aaron D. Persky, Judge Thelma L. Yee, Judge R. Steven Young, and Judge Darryl D. Moore. Flinn, Colwell, Persky, Yee, and Young are up for reelection, and Moore is retiring.
To learn more about the candidates and how to vote, visit the California Judicial Elections website.
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How often are judges elected in California?
In California, judges are elected to their posts in a number of ways. Most judges are elected in partisan elections, in which the candidates are either nominated by a political party or run as independents. However, some judges are appointed by the governor and then later put up for election.
The length of a judge’s term also varies depending on how they are elected. Judges who are elected in partisan races serve six-year terms, while judges who are appointed by the governor serve four-year terms.
There is no set schedule for when judges must be up for election. However, there is a mandatory election for judges who are appointed by the governor every four years.
The next election for judges in California will take place in 2020.
How are CA Supreme Court justices selected?
How are CA Supreme Court justices selected?
The process of selecting justices for the California Supreme Court is a rigorous one. The justices are nominated by the Governor and then must be confirmed by the California State Assembly and the California State Senate.
To be nominated, a justice must be a California resident and must have been a member of the California State Bar for at least 10 years. The justice must also have displayed “excellence in the law” and have a “commitment to public service.”
The California Supreme Court is the state’s highest court. It hears appeals from the California Court of Appeal and from the Superior Courts in the state. The California Supreme Court also has original jurisdiction in cases involving the Constitution of California, the validity of state laws, and the determination of the boundaries of the state’s judicial districts.
The seven justices on the California Supreme Court are appointed by the Governor. The Governor must nominate a justice from a list of three nominees prepared by the California Judicial Nominees Evaluation Commission.
The California State Assembly and the California State Senate must then each confirm the nomination by a majority vote. If the nomination is not confirmed, the Governor must nominate a new justice from the list of three nominees prepared by the California Judicial Nominees Evaluation Commission.
The process of selecting justices for the California Supreme Court is a rigorous one. The justices are nominated by the Governor and then must be confirmed by the California State Assembly and the California State Senate.
To be nominated, a justice must be a California resident and must have been a member of the California State Bar for at least 10 years. The justice must also have displayed “excellence in the law” and have a “commitment to public service.”
The California Supreme Court is the state’s highest court. It hears appeals from the California Court of Appeal and from the Superior Courts in the state. The California Supreme Court also has original jurisdiction in cases involving the Constitution of California, the validity of state laws, and the determination of the boundaries of the state’s judicial districts.
The seven justices on the California Supreme Court are appointed by the Governor. The Governor must nominate a justice from a list of three nominees prepared by the California Judicial Nominees Evaluation Commission.
The California State Assembly and the California State Senate must then each confirm the nomination by a majority vote. If the nomination is not confirmed, the Governor must nominate a new justice from the list of three nominees prepared by the California Judicial Nominees Evaluation Commission.
How often do appellate judges go before voters?
How often do appellate judges go before voters?
Appellate judges are not elected in the same way as trial court judges. Appellate judges are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state senate. They serve until they reach the age of seventy or they retire, whichever comes first. There is no set term, and they are not subject to recall.
While appellate judges are not subject to recall, they can be impeached. The impeachment process begins in the house of representatives, and if the majority of the members of the house vote to impeach the judge, the case goes to the senate. The senate then tries the judge, and if two-thirds of the members vote to convict, the judge is removed from office.
There is no set term for appellate judges, and they are not subject to recall. However, they can be impeached.
How are judges in California selected quizlet?
How are judges in California selected quizlet?
Judges in California are selected through a merit-based system that takes into account the applicants’ legal knowledge, experience, and ability. Applicants must pass an exam administered by the California Judicial Council in order to be considered for a judgeship. The exam is designed to assess an applicant’s legal knowledge and ability to apply the law to specific factual situations.
In order to be eligible to take the exam, an applicant must be a U.S. citizen, be at least 18 years old, have been admitted to the practice of law in California for at least four years, and have been a resident of the state for at least two years.
The exam is scored on a scale of 100, and the top scorers are typically appointed to judgeships. However, the governor also has the authority to appoint judges from a list of finalists selected by the Judicial Council.
Who is the youngest judge in California?
Who is the youngest judge in California?
That would be Anna J. Brown, who was appointed to the bench by Governor Jerry Brown in 2011 at the age of 34.
Born and raised in Southern California, Anna J. Brown received her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and her law degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.
She began her legal career as a deputy public defender in the office of the Los Angeles County Public Defender, where she represented indigent criminal defendants.
In private practice, she represented labor unions, employees, and businesses in a wide variety of labor and employment matters.
She also served as a deputy city attorney for the City of Los Angeles, where she defended the City in civil litigation.
Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Brown was a partner at the law firm of Brown, Goldstein & Levy, LLP, where she specialized in employment and civil rights law.
Judge Brown is the recipient of numerous awards, including the American Bar Association’s Thurgood Marshall Award, the National Employment Lawyers Association’s (NELA) Earl Warren Award, and the California Employment Lawyers Association’s (CELA) President’s Award.
Judge Brown is also a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers.
She resides in Los Angeles with her husband and two young children.
How much do judges get paid in California?
How much do judges get paid in California?
Judges in California make a base salary of $178,789 per year. They also receive a number of benefits, including a pension, health insurance, and a car allowance.
Judges in California are also eligible for a number of pay bonuses. They can receive a pay bonus for serving on a court of appeal, a pay bonus for serving as the chief justice or presiding justice of a court, and a pay bonus for serving as the presiding judge of a department.
In addition, judges in California may receive a number of other pay bonuses, including a pay bonus for completing a training program, a pay bonus for serving as a mentor, and a pay bonus for serving on a board or commission.
Judges in California are also eligible for a number of pay raises. They receive a pay raise of 2.5% every year, and they are also eligible for a pay raise when they are promoted to a new level.
What is the salary of a California Supreme Court justice?
In California, Supreme Court justices are paid a salary of $225,342 per year. This salary is set by the California Constitution and cannot be changed without a vote of the people. The salary is lower than that of federal Supreme Court justices, who receive a salary of $244,400 per year.