Justices of the Supreme Court

The Electoral Procedure

Under the California Constitution, justices of the Supreme Court and the courts of appeal are subject to confirmation by the voters. The public votes “yes” or “no” on whether to retain each justice.

These judicial offices are nonpartisan.

Before a person can become an appellate justice, the Governor must submit the candidate’s name to the Judicial Nominees Evaluation Commission, which is comprised of public members and lawyers. The commission conducts a thorough review of the candidate’s background and qualifications, with community input, and then forwards its evaluation of the candidate to the Governor.

The Governor then reviews the commission’s evaluation and officially nominates the candidate, whose qualifications are subject to public comment before examination and review by the Commission on Judicial Appointments. That commission consists of the Chief Justice of California, the Attorney General of California, and a senior Presiding Justice of the Courts of Appeal. The Commission on Judicial Appointments must then confirm or reject the nomination. Only if confirmed does the nominee become a justice.

Following confirmation, the justice is sworn into office and is subject to voter approval at the next gubernatorial election, and thereafter at the conclusion of each term. The term prescribed by the California Constitution for justices of the Supreme Court and courts of appeal is 12 years. Justices are confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments only until the next gubernatorial election, at which time they run for retention of the remainder of the term, if any, of their predecessor, which will be either four or eight years. (Elections Code section 9083.)

When a state Supreme Court or Court of Appeal justice is near the end of a term in office, voters are asked to decide if the justice will be retained (continue to serve) for an additional term. This is called a retention election.

In retention elections, justices do not run against opposing candidates. If a justice receives more “yes” votes, the justice may remain in his or her position. If a justice receives more “no” votes, the justice will complete the current term and then a new justice will be appointed by the Governor.

State Supreme Court justices hold statewide office so all California voters participate in Supreme Court retention elections.

Courts of Appeal justices serve in one of six districts in California. Only registered voters within an appellate district are asked to determine if the justices of that district will be retained.

For more information about Supreme Court justices and Appellate Court justices, visit courts.ca.gov.

On August 10, 2022, the Honorable Patricia Guerrero, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, was nominated by Governor Gavin Newsom to be the next Chief Justice of California. A nomination by the Governor is effective when confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments. If confirmed by the Commission, then Justice Guerrero will appear on the November 8, 2022, General Election ballot. For updated information about California Supreme Court nominations, go to courts.ca.gov

Patricia Guerrero, Chief Justice of California

Bar Admission: 1997

Education: Stanford Law School, J.D., 1997; University of California, Berkeley, B.A., 1994.

Professional Legal Background: Partner, Latham & Watkins LLP (2006–2013); Associate, Latham & Watkins LLP (2003–2006 & 1997–2002); Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of California (2002–2003).

Judicial Background: Associate Justice, California Supreme Court, March 2022–present; Associate Justice, California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division One, December 2017–March 2022; Judge, San Diego Superior Court, 2013–2017.

Joshua P. Groban, Associate Justice, Supreme Court of California

Bar Admission: December 1998

Education: Harvard Law School, J.D., 1998; Stanford University, A.B., 1995.

Professional Legal Background: Law Clerk to Judge William C. Conner, Southern District of New York, 1998–1999; Attorney, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, 1999–2005; Attorney, Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, 2005–2010; Senior Advisor to Governor Jerry Brown, 2011–2018; Lecturer, UCLA School of Law, 2014–2018.

Judicial Background: Associate Justice, Supreme Court of California, 2018–present.

Martin J. Jenkins, Associate Justice

Bar Admission: May 1981

Education: University of San Francisco School of Law, J.D.; Santa Clara University, A.B., City College of San Francisco.

Professional Legal Background: Prosecutor, Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, 1981–1983; Trial attorney, United States Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division—Criminal Section, 1983–1986; Trial attorney, Pacific Bell Legal Department, 1986–1989.

Judicial Background: Judge, Oakland, Piedmont, Emeryville Municipal Court, 1989–1992; Judge, Alameda County Superior Court, 1992–1997; Judge, United States District Court for the Northern District of California, 1997–2008; Associate Justice, California Court of Appeal, First Appellate District, Division Three, 2008–2019.

Goodwin Liu, Associate Justice, California Supreme Court

Bar Admission: 1999

Education: Yale Law School, J.D., 1998; Stanford University, B.S., 1991; Oxford University, M.A., 2002.

Professional Legal Background: Professor of Law, UC Berkeley School of Law, (2003–2011); Associate Dean, UC Berkeley School of Law, (2008–2010); Litigation Associate, O’Melveny & Myers LLP, (2001–2003); Law Clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (2000–2001); Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Education, (1999–2000); Law Clerk to U.S. Circuit Judge David S. Tatel, (1998–1999).

Judicial Background: Associate Justice, Supreme Court of California, 2011 to present.

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