Commission on Judicial Appointments

The Governor appoints candidates to the Supreme Court and the Courts of Appeal, however, the appointees must be confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments.

The commission has three members: the Chief Justice, the Attorney General, and the senior presiding justice of the Court of Appeal of the affected appellate district. When a Supreme Court appointee is being considered, the third member of the commission is the state's senior presiding justice of the Courts of Appeal.

The commission convenes after the Governor nominates or appoints a person to fill a vacancy on either the Supreme Court or a Court of Appeal. The commission holds one or more public hearings to review the appointee's qualifications and may confirm or veto the appointment. No appellate appointment is final until the commission has filed its approval with the Secretary of State.

Commission on Judicial Appointments, 350 McAllister Street, San Francisco, California 94102-3660.

Guidelines for the Commission on Judicial Appointments (PDF, 22 KB)
(Adopted effective May 18, 1999; amended effective July 1, 2005, March 1, 2006, and November 19, 2007.)

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