California
California’s highest court is the Supreme Court of California. The court has six associate justices and one chief justice, who is appointed under the same procedures as the associate justices. (Source: California Judicial Branch)
Judicial Selection
The governor nominates candidates to the Supreme Court of California who must be confirmed by a majority of the commission on judicial appointments. The commission consists of the chief justice, the state attorney general, and the senior presiding justice of the state’s courts of appeal. Once confirmed, the nominee stands in an unopposed yes/no retention vote at the time of California’s next general election. Justices serve 12-year terms and may seek additional terms through an unopposed yes/no retention vote. There are no term limits, and there is no mandatory retirement age.
State Constitution
California has had two constitutions adopted in 1849 and 1879. As of January 1, 2024, it had 541 amendments. (Source: John Dinan, 2024)
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Where Abortion Rights Could Be on the Ballot in 2024
As many as 14 states could have abortion-related constitutional amendments on the ballot this year.
A Conversation with Justice Goodwin H. Liu of the California Supreme Court
Liu spoke about how judicial decisions affect citizens, the state’s system of direct democracy, and the importance of educating law students about state courts.
All Law Students Should be Educated About State Constitutions
Fortunately, there is a resource that makes it easy to incorporate state constitutions into the first-year constitutional law course.
Rap on Trial
Courts should be wary of allowing prosecutors to introduce rap lyrics as evidence.
Hawaii’s Midwives Challenge Law Criminalizing Traditional Birthing Practices
Many Native Hawaiians rely on lay midwives to provide culturally sensitive reproductive health care.
Judicial Federalism and the Status of State Constitutions
Transcript of panel from Symposium: The Promise and Limits of State Constitutions
Unpacking the Legal Challenges to Trump’s Ballot Eligibility
The vast majority of cases aiming to remove Trump from the ballot have been dismissed, but without deciding whether he’s eligible to hold the presidency.
Massachusetts Reminds Youth Defense Attorneys to Consider State Constitutions