Introduction
Every four years, many California voters wonder, "Who are these supreme and appellate court justices for whom I am asked to vote? How may I learn something about them? Why don't they have opponents? And what are the supreme and appellate courts anyway?"
These are important questions. In past elections, there were no answers conveniently available to California voters. One result has been a major, statewide "voter drop-off." A percentage of voters cast a vote for governor, but do not vote "yes" or "no" for supreme and appellate court justices appearing further down the ballot. While it varies within the six appellate districts, voter drop-off for supreme and appellate court retention elections commonly runs as high as 50 percent in some counties. Because of the Internet, voters now have instantaneous access to comprehensive and credible information, which enables them to become active and informed voters in the appellate retention process.
Courts and the judges who serve on them must make decisions without favor to anyone. That is, they must be independent. For courts and judges to maintain their independence, they must be credible. To be credible they must be known to the public. Consequently, the courts, the judges who serve on them, law school deans and professors, lawyers, and teachers at all levels, kindergarten through graduate schools, must make sustained, shared efforts to educate and inspire people of all ages to learn about and to place their faith in the trial and appellate judiciaries, state and federal, and the rule of law, and to fulfill their civic duty.
The Third Appellate District provides the information on this site to give voters specific information about justices in Appellate District Three and additional information about appellate retention elections in general. Biographies and video interviews are provided for each of the six justices.
Third Appellate District
900 N Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-654-0209
FAX: 916-653-0317
Site last updated: October, 2002