New York Times writer Soumya Karlamangla interviewed Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye. It’s mostly a retrospective following the Chief Justice’s retirement decision, but she also discussed the future, both her own and that of California’s courts, and she shared her thoughts on the leaking of a U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion.
Cantil-Sakauye said she had “people in mind” to replace her and would tell Governor Gavin Newsom who they are “if I were asked.” But, she reported, Newsom has not asked.
The Chief Justice revealed an interesting point about the court’s inner workings, which she said is a factor in the court’s frequent unanimity (yesterday’s opinions (here and here) notwithstanding): “we understand our role as guiding the law, clarifying it for the lower courts, the practitioners and the public. So we may start off, for example, with a broad opinion, but as we each weigh in we start to narrow it because we realize we don’t need to speak so broadly. We are more geared toward providing guidance and clarification on California law that I think makes the difference for why we are able to agree.”
Related:
Chief Justice will recommend candidates to succeed her . . . if asked.
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