Byrhonda Lyons reports for CalMatters about next month’s election that includes four Supreme Court justices on the ballot. She writes that “[i]n the past three decades, the court has gone from being a lightning rod of controversy to a steady, collegial body shaping California law.” Beth Jay — Horvitz & Levy attorney and former principal attorney to three California chief justices — is quoted in the article.
Patricia Guerrero, currently an associate justice, is seeking election to succeed retiring Tani Cantil-Sakauye as California’s Chief Justice. Justices Goodwin Liu, Joshua Groban, and Martin Jenkins are running to remain as associate justices. If elected, Guerrero, Liu, and Jenkins will win full 12-year terms, and Groban will need to face the voters again in fours years because he is running to fill an unexpired term. This is the first Supreme Court election for Guerrero, Groban, and Jenkins.
The article includes confirmation by the Chief Justice of a significant aspect of internal court practices: “Unlike the U.S. Supreme Court, Cantil-Sakauye said, she assigns cases to individual justices as soon as the court grants a review. The court doesn’t wait until after hearing oral arguments to begin evaluating the case. By the time litigants argue their case, she said, she ‘tentatively knows’ the justices’ concerns. ‘We have time to work with each other and explore others’ positions,’ she said.” This front-loading system of working up cases is largely a function of the 90-day rule.
Related:
SF Chronicle urges the election of Supreme Court justices
LA Times endorses Supreme Court justices for election
“How the California Supreme Court went from political lightning rod to low-key happy family”
The Governor should nominate Judge Evans now, not appoint her later