https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/ en https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/chief-justice-names-judicial-council-leadership Chief Justice Names Judicial Council LeadershipBalassone, Merrill Fri, 08/25/2023 - 20:38 News Release Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero this week announced appointments to Judicial Council internal committees, which help the council oversee key areas that include budget, legislation, technology, court rules, and litigation. The appointments take effect Sept. 15. The Chief Justice also reappointed California Supreme Court Justice Carol Corrigan as the council’s vice chair, who is authorized to act as chair in the event the chair (Chief Justice Guerrero) is absent or unable to act.  Said Chief Justice Guerrero: “These committee members will help guide our most important priorities and develop solutions to pressing issues facing our judicial branch. Many of these appointees are returning to committee leadership, which will help us make steady progress on our ongoing priorities. We also have new members who will share fresh ideas and perspective with the council. I look forward to the growth we will make in the coming year with the support of these talented and diverse leaders.” The Executive and Planning Committee will be newly chaired by Administrative Presiding Justice Brad R. Hill. Judge Maureen F. Hallahan, Superior Court of San Diego County, will serve as vice chair. Justice Hill's appointment will be effective Aug. 30 due to the retirement of former committee chair, Justice Marsha Slough. The committee oversees the council’s meeting process and operating procedures and develops the long-range strategic plan for the judicial branch.   The Judicial Branch Budget Committee will continue to be chaired by Judge Ann C. Moorman. David H. Yamasaki, court executive officer of the Superior Court of Orange County, will serve as vice chair. The committee develops fiscal priorities and advocates for the judicial branch with the Governor and Legislature.     Judge Marla O. Anderson, of the Superior Court of Monterey County, will continue to chair the Legislation Committee, with Judge Maria Lucy Armendariz, of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, as vice chair. The committee represents the council’s position with other branches of government and its agencies. It also reviews and makes recommendations on legislation and policy.   The Rules Committee, which oversees the development and approval of the California Rules of Court, the California Standards of Judicial Administration, and Judicial Council forms, will continue to be chaired by Justice Carin T. Fujisaki, with Judge Michelle Williams Court as vice chair.   The Technology Committee will continue to be chaired by Judge Kyle S. Brodie, of the Superior Court of San Bernardino County. Judge C. Todd Bottke, of the Superior Court of Tehama County, will continue to serve as vice chair. The committee oversees technology issues relating to the branch and the courts.   The Litigation Management Committee, which oversees claims against trial and appellate courts and the Judicial Council, will continue to be chaired by Judge Marla O. Anderson. https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/commission-confirms-appointment-third-district-court-appeal Commission Confirms Appointment to Third District Court of AppealBalassone, Merrill Tue, 02/14/2023 - 10:38 News Release Photos of the hearing are available here (Courtesy: Commission on Judicial Appointments). Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, chair of the Commission on Judicial Appointments, announced that the commission today unanimously confirmed Judge Shama Hakim Mesiwala to the Third District Court of Appeal in Sacramento. Judge Mesiwala was confirmed by unanimous vote of the three-member commission, which included Chief Justice Guerrero (Chair); Attorney General Rob Bonta; and Acting Presiding Justice Ronald B. Robie. Appointee Summary Biography Judge Shama Hakim Mesiwala fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Coleman A. Blease. Judge Mesiwala has served as a Sacramento County Superior Court judge since 2017 and was a commissioner there in 2017. Judge Mesiwala has been an adjunct professor at the University of California, Davis School of Law since 2013. She was a judicial attorney at the Third District Court of Appeal from 2004 to 2017, where she served as a senior judicial attorney for Justice Ronald B. Robie from 2006 to 2017 and as a central staff attorney from 2004 to 2006. Judge Mesiwala served as a staff attorney at the Central California Appellate Program from 1999 to 2004 and as an attorney at the Office of the Federal Public Defender, Eastern District of California in 1999. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Davis School of Law. https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/survey-results-california-bench-growing-more-diverse-1 Survey Results: California Bench Growing More DiverseCorren, Blaine Tue, 03/01/2022 - 13:01 News Release For the 16th straight year, California’s judicial bench has grown more diverse, according to new data released by the Judicial Council. As of December 31, 2021, female judicial officers constitute 38.6% of judicial officers across all court levels, a 1% increase over the prior year and an increase of more than 11 percentage points since 2006—the first year that data were collected for this purpose. The bench also has continued to become more racially and ethnically diverse. The proportion of white judicial officers has declined 7% since 2006. The percentage of Asian, Black, and Hispanic judicial officers has nearly doubled over the same time period, and now 35% of current justices and judges identify as non-white. Statewide, Multi-Branch Effort to Increase Judicial DiversityThe Judicial Council developed a Judicial Diversity Toolkit, which encourages courts to reach out to underrepresented groups—which include individuals with diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, disabilities, and sexual orientations—to educate and advise them about pursuing careers in the law. In addition, Gov. Newsom last July announced the California Judicial Mentor Program as a statewide undertaking between the executive and judicial branches to develop and recruit qualified and diverse judicial applicants for the state’s superior and appellate courts. Of Governor Newsom’s 169 appointments during his first three years in office, 49% were women and 58% identified themselves as Asian, Black or African-American, Hispanic, or Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander. Governor Newsom recently nominated Justice Patricia Guerrero to the California Supreme Court, who if confirmed would become the court’s first Latina justice. Newsom also appointed Justice Martin Jenkins two years ago to the California Supreme Court, the court's first openly gay justice and third African American man ever to serve on the state’s highest court. Survey of California BenchThe Judicial Council surveyed California judges and justices in December 2021 to get a snapshot of the demographics of the California bench—including gender, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. Responding to the questionnaire is voluntary for judges, and the data only reflects the responses provided.   GenderData show the percentage of female justices and judges has increased to 38.6%, compared to 27.1% in 2006, continuing a steady upward trend. Race and EthnicityThe data also show changes over the past 16 years in the percentage of justices and judges reported in the following race/ethnicity categories:  American Indian or Alaska Native (.5% in 2021 compared to 0.1% in 2006); Asian (8.7% in 2021 compared to 4.4% in 2006); Black or African American (8.4% in 2021 compared to 4.4% in 2006); Hispanic or Latino (11.7% in 2021 compared to 6.3% in 2006); Pacific Islander (0.3% in 2021 compared to 0.1% in 2006); White (63.1% in 2021 compared to 70.1% in 2006); Some Other Race (1.0% in 2021 compared to 0.2% in 2006); More Than One Race (4.4% in 2021 and also 4.4% in 2006); and  Information Not Provided (1.9% in 2021 compared to 9.9% in 2006). These changes reflect judicial retirements and other departures from the bench, new judicial appointments, and an increase in the number of trial court judges who voluntarily provided race/ethnicity information. Gender Identity/Sexual OrientationThis is the 11th year that the study includes data on gender identity and sexual orientation, as required by a law passed in 2011. Of the respondents who provided information about gender identity/sexual orientation, the following identified as: Heterosexual - 73.9% Lesbian - 1.8% Gay - 2.3% Bisexual - 0.2% Transgender - 0.1% Information not provided - 21.7% Veteran and Disability StatusIn addition, this is the 8th year that the study includes data on veteran and disability status. These questions were first asked of justices and judges who were new to the bench during the 2014 calendar year, although judges appointed before this date are free to update this aspect of their demographic profile as well. Of the 707 active trial court judges responding to the question about their status as a veteran, 50 respondents (7%) indicated they have served in the military. Of the 744 active judges responding to the question concerning their disability status, 17 judges (2%) indicated they have a disability. About Judicial Officer Demographic DataGovernment Code section 12011.5(n) requires the Judicial Council to collect and release aggregate demographic data on California state justices and judges by March 1 every year. This is the report’s 16th year. Increasing the diversity of California’s judicial officers to reflect the rich diversity of California’s populace continues to be a key goal of the Judicial Council. https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/commission-confirms-justice-first-district-court-appeal Commission Confirms Justice to First District Court of AppealBalassone, Merrill Wed, 10/13/2021 - 13:44 News Release   Reports on the nominee can be found here. Image The Commission on Judicial Appointments held the Oct. 13 hearing virtually, as it has done since March 2020. Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye, chair of the Commission on Judicial Appointments, announced that the commission today confirmed Judge Victor A. Rodriguez as Associate Justice of the Court of Appeal, First Appellate District, Division Three (San Francisco). This marked the third virtual hearing in the commission's history. The nominee was confirmed by a unanimous vote of the three-member commission, which includes Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye (Chair), Attorney General Rob Bonta, and Presiding Justice J. Anthony Kline. Witnesses speaking on the appointee's character and qualifications all formerly supervised Justice Rodriguez — California Supreme Court Justices Carol Corrigan and Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar, and Alameda County Superior Court Judge Thomas Nixon.  Appointee Biography Justice Victor A. Rodriguez fills the vacancy created by the elevation of Justice Teri L. Jackson as Presiding Justice of the First District Court of Appeal, Division Five. Justice Rodriguez served on the Alameda County Superior Court since 2018. He served as supervising staff attorney for Justice Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar at the California Supreme Court from 2015 to 2018, where he also served as judicial staff attorney for Justices Carlos R. Moreno, Goodwin H. Liu, and Carol A. Corrigan from 2006 to 2015. He served as a law clerk for Judge Consuelo B. Marshall at the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California from 2005 to 2006. Judge Rodriguez was a Skadden Fellow at the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund from 2003 to 2005. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law and a Master of Arts degree in Communication Studies from California State University, Long Beach.