Justice Ming Chin today announced that he will retire from the Supreme Court at the end of August, when he will have served 24 years on the court and been a judge for 32 years.  He is the longest-tenured current justice and only five people in the court’s history have been justices longer than Chin, 77.

Chin is the court’s first Chinese-American justice.  He is also the only veteran now on the court.

In a court statement, Chin recounts he was once told his opinions “are characterized by clarity and courage” and says, “If that is what is written about me in 50 years, I would be happy.”

The statement includes praise of Chin by Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, former Chief Justice Ronald George, former Justice Marvin Baxter, and former Governor Pete Wilson.  Governor Gavin Newsom issued a separate laudatory statement.

Chin is giving Governor Newsom seven months’ notice of his retirement.  That is ample time to preclude any extended vacancy.  In fact, the Governor could probably make his appointment even before Chin leaves the court.