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Newsom to Nominate Guerrero As California Chief Justice
Governor Plans to Replace Her With Alameda Superior Court Judge Kelli Evans As Associate Justice
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—AP California Supreme Court Justice Patricia Guerrero is seen at her confirmation hearing in March. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced yesterday that he will nominate her as chief justice. |
By a MetNews Staff Writer
Justice Patricia Guerrero, a member of the California Supreme Court since March 28, will be elevated to the post of chief justice as of Jan. 2, if the nomination announced yesterday by Gov. Gavin Newsom is confirmed by voters on Nov. 8 and by the Commission on Judicial Appointments.
Newsom also announced his intention to appoint Alameda Superior Court Judge Kelli Evans to the Supreme Court, to take Guerrero’s spot as an associate justice. Prior to her appointment to the trial bench in 2021, she was Newsom’s chief deputy legal affairs secretary, helping shape the governor’s moratorium on executions, and from 2010 to 2013 was associate director of the ACLU of Northern California.
The governor said of his nominee for the post of chief justice:
“Justice Guerrero has established herself as a widely respected jurist with a formidable intellect and command of the law and deep commitment to equal justice and public service. A first-generation Californian from the Imperial Valley, Justice Guerrero broke barriers as California’s first Latina Supreme Court Justice, enriching our state’s highest court with her insights and deep understanding of the real-world impacts of the Court’s decisions in the lives of everyday Californians. “I thank Justice Guerrero for her willingness to step into this role and am confident that the people of California will continue to be well served by her leadership for years to come.”
Hails Evans
Newsom said of Evans, 53:
“Throughout her career, Judge Evans has dedicated herself to helping all Californians have an equal chance at justice. Raised by her grandmother in public housing, Judge Evans was inspired from a young age to find ways to help expand justice and opportunity for everyone, especially marginalized and vulnerable communities.
“I have seen firsthand her commitment to the highest ideals of public service, and her passion to protect and advance civil rights and liberties for all Californians. I have no doubt that her exemplary talent, wide-ranging knowledge and experience, strong moral compass, and work ethic will make her an outstanding Supreme Court Justice.”
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KELLI EVANS Alameda Superior Court Judge |
Guerrero Comments
Guerrero, 50—a member of Div. One of the Fourth District Court of Appeal from 2017-22 and a San Diego Superior Court judge for five years before that—commented:
“I am humbled by this nomination to lead our state’s Supreme Court and thank the Governor for entrusting me with this honor. If confirmed, I look forward to continuing the strides the Court has made under Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye to expand equal access to justice and create a fairer justice system for all Californians.”
The jurist, whose law degree is from Stanford, was an associate at Latham & Watkins from 1997 to 2002, served as an assistant U.S. attorney for the of the Southern District of California from 2002-03, returned to Latham & Watkins as an associate in 2003, and was a partner in that firm from 2007 to 2013.
Evans Tells Goals
Evans, 53, remarked:
“I am truly honored by this opportunity to serve the people of California on our state’s highest court. I have worked my entire career to promote equality and access to justice and to protect the rights of some of society’s most disenfranchised members. “If confirmed, I look forward to furthering our state’s work to ensure equal justice under the law for all Californians.”
Evans, who is openly Lesbian, was senior director for the administration of justice at the State Bar of California from 2014-17 and was special assistant to the state attorney general from 2017-19. She has been in private practice and has been a senior trial attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and a deputy public defender in Sacramento County.
State Bar’s Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation will rate Guerrero and Evans prior to their nominations and those nominations will be passed on by the Commission on Judicial Appointments, to be comprised of Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and the state’s senior Court of Appeal presiding justice, Manuel Ramirez, of the Fourth District’s Div. Two.
If confirmed by the commission and by voters, their 12-year terms will, under Art. VI, §16(a) of the state Constitution, on “the Monday after January 1 following their election,” which is Jan. 2.
Cantil-Sakauye announced July 27 that she would not seek a second term.
Copyright 2022, Metropolitan News Company