California Supreme Court

The California Supreme Court is the state's highest court. Its decisions are binding on all other California state courts. The court conducts regular sessions in San Francisco, as well as in Los Angeles and Sacramento; it may also hold special sessions elsewhere.

Membership, Qualifications: One Chief Justice and six associate justices are appointed by the Governor, confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments, and also confirmed by the public at the next general election following their appointment; justices also come before voters at the end of their 12-year terms. To be considered for appointment, a person must have been an attorney admitted to practice in California for at least 10 years immediately preceding appointment or must have served as a judge of a court of record in California.

Jurisdiction: The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in proceedings for extraordinary relief in the form of mandamus, certiorari, and prohibition. The court also has original jurisdiction in habeas corpus proceedings. The state Constitution gives the Supreme Court the authority to review decisions of the Courts of Appeal. This reviewing power enables the Supreme Court to decide important legal questions and to maintain uniformity in the law. The court selects specific issues for review, or it may decide all the issues in a case. The Constitution also directs the high court to review all cases in which a trial court has pronounced a judgment of death. Under state law, these cases are automatically appealed directly from a trial court to the Supreme Court. In addition, the Supreme Court reviews the recommendations of the Commission on Judicial Performance and the State Bar of California concerning the discipline of judges and attorneys for misconduct. The only other matters coming directly to the Supreme Court are appeals from decisions of the Public Utilities Commission.

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