RobynNordell.com Conservative Election Recommendations

Robyn Nordell's Conservative California Election Website

Conservative Voter Recommendations & Resources for the
Tuesday, March 5, 2024, California Primary Election



 

JUDICIAL RECOMMENDATIONS
For the upcoming Tuesday, March 5, 2024, California Primary Election

PRINTABLE GUIDE: CALIFORNIA JUDGE RECOMMENDATIONS (posted 2/23/24)
For the Tuesday, March 5, 2024, California Primary Election


ADDITIONAL WAYS OF FINDING OUT ABOUT JUDGES - for those who want to do their own research.

  • Check with lawyers and those within the court system who you know have similar values and philosophy to your own. They may be able to give you advice.
  • Check with conservative, knowledgeable, and trusted legislators and activists in your county. Some of them research judge candidates and are prepared to share their recommendations.
  • Attend a Debate or Other Public Speaking Event. Many judicial candidates participate in/speak at candidate forums and other events.

    If you have an opportunity to interview candidates running for judge, you might want to incorporate some of the questions used in JudgeVoterGuide.com Candidate Questionnaire.
  • Check candidates' websites for basic information and their endorsement lists. You might do a Google search for the candidates' names and various issues. Sometimes even pictures on the candidates websites give insightful clues about the candidate - who they are pictured with, at what events, etc.
  • Look for more ideas in KCET's article, "How to Judge a Judge," by Brian Frank.
DISCLAIMER: I'm posting this article because it has some good ideas Under the Section, "Resources to Help You Evaluate the Candidates". However, I would not pay much attention to the mentions of the liberal State Bar or the liberal LA County Bar Association's ratings - historically they favor Liberal Judge candidates NOT conservatives.


BASIC INFORMATION on Judges and the California Court System

Overview of California Courts

Fact Sheet: California Judicial Branch, 2/18

Judges

Q: How are trial court judges selected?
Q: How are justices of the Supreme Court and Courts of Appeal selected?
Q: How many judges are there in the California courts?
Q: Where can I find biographical information about California's Supreme Court justices?
Q: Where can I find biographical information about California's Court of Appeal justices?
Q: Where can I find biographical information about California's trial court judges?
Q: How can I locate a particular California trial court judge?


California Courts Judicial Selection/Election/Retention Process
California Court Duration of Term
Supreme Court 12 years
Court of Appeals 12 years
Superior Court 6 years
 
California Court Method of Retention
Supreme Court Retention election
Court of Appeals Retention election
Superior Court Reelection
 
California Court Time Frame for Election/ Appointment
Supreme Court 10 years' practice of law in state or service
as a judge of court of record
Court of Appeals 10 years' practice of law in state or service
as a judge of court of record
Superior Court 10 years' practice of law in state or service
as a judge of court of record


Selection and retention methods and term lengths are prescribed by Article VI of the California Constitution.

Judicial Positions

Judge: An official of the judicial branch of government with authority to decide lawsuits brought before the court. Elected or appointed by the Governor.

Commissioner: A person elected by the judges of the court and given the power to hear and make decisions in certain kinds of legal matters.

Referee: A person appointed by the Court who can make decisions on limited legal matters such as juvenile or traffic offenses.

Judge Pro Tem: A person or judge appointed by the Presiding Judge of a particular county to sit temporarily on a given court usually in the regular judge's absence.

Temporary Judge: A member of the State Bar appointed by the court and stipulated to by the parties to hear cases and make decisions in certain kinds of legal matters.

The above chart was used with permission of the American Judicature Society.
Source: AJS Methods of Judicial Selection: California