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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.

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Judicial Selection: How California Chooses Its Judges and Justices

The California court system consists of the local superior courts in each of California’s 58 counties, the 6 districts of the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court. Following is a summary of how judges and justices get to their positions on these courts.

Feature - September 23, 2020

Reflections on the Life and Legacy of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Over the past week, justices of the California Supreme Court have reflected on the personal impact U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had on their lives and careers.

"It feels impossible to overestimate the importance that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had on my generation of female lawyers and jurists," wrote Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye. "She was one of ours."

Justice Goodwin Liu with Justice Ginsburg

Frequently Asked Question

How are justices of the Supreme Court selected?

One Chief Justice and 6 associate justices are appointed by the Governor, confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments, and confirmed by the public at the next general election. A justice also comes before the voters at the end of his or her 12-year term. To be eligible for appointment, a person must have been a member of the State Bar of California or a judge of a court in this state for at least 10 years.

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Judicial Branch Governance | Judicial Council of California

Created by constitutional amendment, the council is the policymaking body for California’s state court system The 21 voting members include the Chief Justice, 14 judicial officers, 4 attorneys, and 1 member from each house of the Legislature The council also has advisory members who include judicial officers and court executives or administrators The council carries out much of its work through the hundreds of volunteers on its