California Judicial Ballot Recommendations6 min read

The California Judicial Council released their judicial ballot recommendations on September 25th. The recommendations are based on the evaluations of the Judicial Performance Review Commission.

There are three races on the November ballot: the race for the California Supreme Court, the race for the Court of Appeal, and the race for the Superior Court.

The California Supreme Court race has two candidates: incumbent Justice Carol Corrigan and challenger Leondra Kruger. The Judicial Performance Review Commission gave Justice Corrigan a “recommended for retention” rating and Kruger a “not recommended” rating.

The Court of Appeal race has six candidates: incumbent Justice Frances Rothschild and challengers Thomas Goethals, Kenneth R. Yegan, Douglas F. Miller, Maria E. Stratton, and Kathleen E. O’Leary. The Judicial Performance Review Commission gave Justice Rothschild a “recommended for retention” rating and the other five candidates a “not recommended” rating.

The Superior Court race has thirty-six candidates: incumbent Judge Rex Heflin and challengers Kevin McCormick, Arturo Alvarado, Jr., Christopher J. Hite, James J. Bianco, Jr., Leticia A. Perez, and 34 other candidates. The Judicial Performance Review Commission gave incumbent Judge Heflin a “recommended for retention” rating and the other thirty-five candidates a “not recommended” rating.

What is the Judicial selection process in California?

The Judicial selection process in California is a two-step process. The first step is the nomination process, in which the Governor of California nominates candidates for judicial office to the California Commission on Judicial Nomination (CJN). The CJN reviews the nominees and makes recommendations to the Governor, who then appoints the judges.

The second step is the confirmation process, in which the nominees are reviewed by the California State Senate. The Senate may confirm, reject, or take no action on the nominees.

How often do California Supreme Court justices appear on the ballot?

How often do California Supreme Court justices appear on the ballot?

The answer to this question depends on how you look at it. The justices are appointed by the governor, and they serve until they retire or die. There is no limit to the number of terms a justice can serve.

However, a justice can be removed from office by a vote of the people. This has only happened once, in 1986, when Chief Justice Rose Bird and two of her colleagues were voted out of office.

So, technically, a justice can serve for life, but they can also be removed from office by the people.

How does the California judicial selection system differ from that used for federal judges?

The United States Constitution outlines the process for appointing federal judges. Under the Constitution, the President nominates judges with the advice and consent of the Senate. After nomination, a federal judge must be confirmed by a majority vote of the Senate.

The process for appointing state judges, on the other hand, is left to the individual states. California, like most states, uses a system of judicial selection known as “merit selection.” Under merit selection, a commission of lawyers and laypeople is appointed by the governor to review the qualifications of applicants and recommend a shortlist of qualified candidates to the governor. The governor then appoints a judge from this shortlist.

There are several key differences between the federal judicial selection process and the California judicial selection process.

First, the federal judicial selection process is far more political. Presidents often nominate judges who share their political views, and the Senate often confirms judges who share their political views. By contrast, governors in California often choose judges from a different political party than the governor.

Second, the federal judicial selection process is far more secretive. The identities of the nominees are often not released to the public until after they have been confirmed by the Senate. By contrast, the California judicial selection process is far more transparent. The identities of the nominees are often released to the public weeks or months before the governor makes his or her final decision.

Third, the federal judicial selection process is more likely to reward political loyalty. Presidents often nominate judges who have been loyal to them and their political party. By contrast, governors in California often choose judges who have been highly respected by their colleagues, even if they are not members of the governor’s political party.

Fourth, the federal judicial selection process is more likely to reward fundraising ability. Presidents often nominate judges who have raised large sums of money for their political campaigns. By contrast, governors in California often choose judges who have a reputation for being fair and impartial.

Finally, the federal judicial selection process is more likely to lead to “judicial activism.” Judges who are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate are often more likely to rule in favor of the executive branch. By contrast, judges who are appointed by the governor in California are often more likely to rule in favor of the legislature or the people.

How much do judges get paid in California?

Judges in California are some of the best compensated in the country. 

The annual salary for a California Superior Court judge is $220,612. 

In addition, California judges receive a number of benefits, including a pension, health insurance, and a car allowance. 

The total compensation for a California Superior Court judge can exceed $300,000 per year.

Who is the youngest judge in California?

In California, the youngest judge is Raymond M. Cadei, who was appointed to the Santa Clara County Superior Court in January 2017 at the age of 34. Cadei was born and raised in Northern California and graduated from Santa Clara University School of Law. He began his legal career as a law clerk for the Honorable Carolyn B. Kuhl of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Cadei also worked as a litigation associate at a Silicon Valley law firm before being appointed to the bench.

Why are judges appointed and not elected?

Judges in the United States are appointed, not elected. This has been the case since the Judiciary Act of 1789, which created the federal judiciary. There are a few reasons why judges are appointed and not elected.

One reason is that judges are supposed to be impartial and not swayed by popular opinion. appointing judges allows the executive and legislative branches to choose someone who is qualified and unbiased. Electing judges could lead to them being influenced by political considerations.

Another reason is that electing judges could lead to partisan gridlock. If judges were elected, the party that didn’t control the appointment process would likely block nominations from the other party. This would lead to a judiciary composed of only judges from one party, which would not be good for the country.

Finally, appointing judges is a way to keep the judiciary independent from the other branches of government. If judges were elected, they would be beholden to the people who elected them, which could lead to them being influenced by political considerations. This would not be good for the judiciary, which needs to be independent in order to make fair and impartial decisions.

How can California judges be removed from office?

There are a few ways that a California judge can be removed from office. The first way is through impeachment. This is when the state legislature files charges against the judge, and a trial is held in the Senate. If the judge is found guilty, they can be removed from office. The second way is through a recall election. This is when the citizens of the state vote to remove the judge from office. The third way is when the judge steps down from their position.