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News Release - August 10, 2020

California Supreme Court Issues Order Finalizing Lower Passing Score for Future Bar Exam Takers

Lower passing score will not be applied retroactively to previous Bar Exam takers, court writes in letter to State Bar.

State Bar

California Supreme Court

State Bar

Bar Exam

graphic of laptop keyboard on white canvas with text that says next exam date Oct 5-6

News Release - January 28, 2021

California Supreme Court Expands Law License Pathway for Prior Examinees

Thousands more law school graduates with qualifying prior bar exam scores will be able to work as fully licensed attorneys after completing supervised practice hours.

California Supreme Court

Bar Exam

Feature - July 7, 2016

When should a judge who is a former prosecutor be disqualified from a criminal proceeding?

Recent U.S. Supreme Court's Williams v. Pennsylvania case applies a disqualification standard for former prosecutors similar to earlier California Supreme Court Committee on Judicial Ethics Opinions (CJEO) advice—CJEO extends its advice to service in a prior conviction.

Disqualification for Prior Appearance as a Deputy District Attorney in Another …

CJEO Website

Committee On Judicial Ethics Opinions

Judiciary

Feature - May 20, 2016

Public Comment Plays Unique Role in Judicial Ethics Opinions

Public comment helps the Supreme Court of California’s Committee on Judicial Ethics Opinions draft advisory opinions on ethics issues of importance to California’s judges—it also helps them decide whether to publish an opinion or redraft based on the comments received.

Committee On Judicial Ethics Opinions

Judiciary

News Release - July 16, 2020

California Supreme Court Lowers Bar Exam Passing Score

The California Supreme Court on Thursday announced it will permanently lower the passing score for the California Bar Exam and released plans for an October test administered online.

State Bar

California Supreme Court

Bar Exam

News Release - January 3, 2019

Joshua Groban Sworn-in as Associate Justice of California Supreme Court

On Dec 21, Joshua P. Groban was confirmed to the California Supreme Court, and sworn-in on Jan 3. He begins hearing arguments on Jan 8, 2019.

Report on Evaluation of Appointment of Joshua Groban

Commission on Judicial Appointments

Commission On Judicial Appointments

Supreme Court

Chief Justice

News Release - November 13, 2019

Supreme Court Releases Report on Leak of Bar Exam Topics

The Supreme Court of California on Wednesday released a final report from its investigation into the disclosure of the exam topics for the July 2019 Bar exam.

Full report

Bar Exam

California Supreme Court

News Release - September 6, 2019

Supreme Court Appoints Members to Committee of Bar Examiners

The Supreme Court of California on Friday announced three appointments to the State Bar of California’s Committee of Bar Examiners.

State Bar

Bar Exam

California Supreme Court

News Release - March 8, 2017

Justice Kathryn Mickle Werdegar Announces Retirement from State Supreme Court

Justice Kathryn M. Werdegar today announced her retirement from the Supreme Court of California effective August 31, 2017, after 23 years on the high court and 55 years of public service.

Justice Werdegar's Bio

Supreme Court of California

Published Opinions

Judiciary

News Release - October 13, 2020

Justice Martin J. Jenkins Confirmed to California Supreme Court

SAN FRANCISCO—The Commission on Judicial Appointments scheduled a public hearing for Nov. 10 beginning at 1 p.m. in the Supreme Court Courtroom—350 McAllister Street in San Francisco—to consider the nomination by Governor Gavin Newsom of Justice Martin J.

Commission On Judicial Appointments

California Supreme Court

News Release - October 5, 2020

Gov. Newsom Selects Justice Martin Jenkins (Ret.) for California Supreme Court

FROM THE OFFICE OF GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM—Governor Gavin Newsom today announced his nomination of Justice Martin Jenkins (Ret.) for Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court.

Justice Jenkins has held several prominent state and federal judicial positions throughout his career. He would be the first openly gay California Supreme Court justice and only the third African American man ever to serve on the state’s highest court. It has been 29 years since an African American man has served on the California Supreme Court.

Judicial Selection in California

Appointments

Judiciary