State of California

Panel approves Pinay as Chief Justice nominee

A number of Filipinos came to the Earl Warren Building in San Francisco to show support for their kababayan, Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, at the confirmation hearing of the State Commission on Judicial Appointments.

Bill would bar judges from hearing donors' cases

The California Legislature has passed a bill that would impose strict disqualification rules on trial court judges hearing cases that involve certain former contributors to their election campaigns.

Pick for Calif. chief justice could create court's first female majority

Calif. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Third District Court of Appeal Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye to be the state's next chief justice.

California Chief Justice Ron George stepping down

California Chief Justice Ron George announced his retirement Wednesday, stunning colleagues and court watchers who saw him issue the opinion that briefly legalized gay marriage and passionately work to consolidate the state's once Byzantine court system.

Easy victories for incumbent judges

Four incumbent judges were headed to easy victories over a slate of challengers who were backed by a group of religious and social conservatives. A race for a fifth seat on the bench appeared headed to a runoff in the fall.

Christian conservatives target seated judges

A group of conservative attorneys say they are on a mission from God to unseat four California judges in a rare challenge that is turning a traditionally snooze-button election into what both sides call a battle for the integrity of U.S. courts.

Calif. justice growing tired of judicial elections

California Supreme Court Justice Ming Chin may soon be a proponent of eliminating judicial elections, he said last week during a hearing held by the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

‘Moral vote’ group targets four judicial seats

Judicial elections are normally low-key events, but this year the race for five San Diego Superior Court seats includes unexpected challenges from candidates backed by a group called Better Courts Now.

Calif. bill aims to ensure judicial impartiality

Campaign contributions to California judges would be scrutinized under a bill that has passed the state Assembly.

Four more superior court candidates receive 'qualified' ratings

West Los Angeles arbitrator/mediator Elizabeth A. Moreno, Deputy Public Defender C. Edward Mack, Deputy City Attorney Chris Garcia, and Deputy District Attorney Edward Nison have all received 'qualified' ratings from the Los Angeles County Bar Association's Judicial Election Evaluations Committee, the MetNews has learned.

Two judicial candidates express dissatisfaction with LACBA evaluation

Beverly Hills practitioner Mark K. Ameli and Redondo Beach sole practitioner Pattricia M. Vienna yesterday told the MetNews that they disagreed with the tentative ratings they received from the Los Angeles County Bar Association's Judicial Election Evaluations Committee, but only Ameli said he planned to appeal.

Judges get ready for ‘big fight’ against conservative challenge

Pastor Chris Clark of East Clairemont Baptist Church was involved in the fight to keep the cross on Mt. Soledad and helped rally hundreds of religious leaders statewide for the Yes on Proposition 8 campaign.

AOC releases data on diversity on California bench

The number of women on the bench in California increased again last year while the number of minority jurists continued to fall, according to demographic data on judges and justices released Friday by the Administrative Office of the Courts.