“If I couldn’t speak out as chief justice, I don’t know who could”

U.S. News & World Report reports on Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye’s appearance yesterday at a meeting of the Sacramento Press Club.  [“California Chief Justice:  Governor Brown Still Unpredictable.”]  (Additional coverage in the Los Angeles Times and Capital Public Radio.)

Among other things, the Chief Justice discussed reaction to her high-profile protests to the federal government about immigration agents making arrests in California courthouses.  “There were . . . many telephone calls, mostly from other states, from ‘profane and very angry people.  And I received a lot of letters that said “This is not your job. . . .  This is political.  You shouldn’t be involved in politics.”‘”  She said she also received a lot of support.  ‘If I couldn’t speak out as chief justice, I don’t know who could,’ she said.”

The Chief Justice also commented on Governor Jerry Brown.  She said, “I still don’t know what to expect” from meetings with him, but, “Our relationship is honest.  And he’s always pressing for greater efficiencies (in the state’s court system) — and shorter opinions.”