Supreme Court of California Decisions
The California Supreme Court consists of seven justices, including a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices. The Court has the authority to review decisions in the California Courts of Appeal, decisions by the Public Utilities Commission, and any cases that result in a death sentence. In general, the California Supreme Court will review cases that involve issues that have statewide significance. It may review a matter in part or in its entirety.
The Court also oversees matters related to misconduct within the legal profession. It reviews recommendations by the Commission on Judicial Performance and the California State Bar on disciplining a judge or attorney. It has issued a California Code of Judicial Conduct, which consists of six canons, to guide judges in the state.
To serve as a justice, a candidate must have been admitted to practice law in California for the last 10 years, or must have served as a judge in a California state court for the same time. The Governor of California appoints justices to the Court, but the Commission on Judicial Appointments must confirm each appointment. Also, a newly appointed justice must face a retention referendum when the state next votes to elect a governor. The term of each justice lasts for 12 years, after which a retention election will determine whether they serve another term. The process is the same for the Chief Justice as for the Associate Justices.
A justice on the California Supreme Court may be removed if the state assembly votes to impeach them, and then two-thirds of the state senate votes to convict them. Removal also may follow an investigation of misconduct by the justice that results in a recommendation of removal by the California Commission on Judicial Performance. Alternatively, the Commission may suspend or censure a justice.
- 2024 (9)
- 2023 (55)
- 2022 (57)
- 2021 (63)
- 2020 (79)
- 2019 (82)
- 2018 (97)
- 2017 (94)
- 2016 (94)
- 2015 (81)
- 2014 (88)
- 2013 (92)
- 2012 (110)
- 2011 (91)
- 2010 (123)
- 2009 (115)
- 2008 (94)
- 2007 (123)
- 2006 (124)
- 2005 (124)
- 2004 (135)
- 2003 (131)
- 2002 (130)
- 1998 (1)
- 1996 (1)
- 1994 (1)
- 1993 (1)
- 1992 (1)
- 1991 (1)
- 1971 (1)
- 1968 (1)
- 1956 (1)
- 1948 (1)
- 1941 (1)
- 1920 (1)
- 1919 (1)
- 1853 (1)
Recent Decisions From the Supreme Court of California
Date: March 4, 2024
Docket Number: S266034
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court of California, in a case involving a dispute over California's lemon law, ruled in favor of the plaintiff, Lisa Niedermeier. Niedermeier had purchased a new Jeep Wrangler from FCA US LLC, which was…
Date: March 4, 2024
Docket Number: S277487
Justia Opinion Summary: In California, the People v. Hardin case involves the defendant, Tony Hardin, who is serving a life sentence without parole for a special circumstance murder he committed at age 25. Hardin challenged the…
Date: February 26, 2024
Docket Number: S273368
Justia Opinion Summary: In this case, the Supreme Court of California held that a trial court has discretion to grant or deny relief from a jury trial waiver under section 631(g) of the Code of Civil Procedure. The court is not required to…
Date: February 22, 2024
Docket Number: S275746
Justia Opinion Summary: In this case, the Supreme Court of California was asked to interpret the "collective engagement" requirement under the California Penal Code section 186.22(f) and its application to the proof of predicate offenses. This…
Date: February 8, 2024
Docket Number: S271483
Justia Opinion Summary: In this case before the Supreme Court of California, the court interprets the provisions regarding the modification of a revocable trust under California Probate Code sections 15401 and 15402. The dispute revolves around…
Date: February 5, 2024
Docket Number: S258376
Justia Opinion Summary: In 2019, the California Supreme Court ruled that the defendant, Oscar Manuel Vaquera, did not receive fair notice of the sentence that the prosecution was seeking in his case, which violated his right to due process.…
Date: February 1, 2024
Docket Number: S275023
Justia Opinion Summary: In the case before the Supreme Court of California, the dispute revolved around a residential driveway in Sierra Madre and raised a significant question about the law of easements. The plaintiffs, Tatana Spicakova Romero…
Date: January 22, 2024
Docket Number: S132256
Justia Opinion Summary: Glen Taylor Helzer pleaded guilty to five counts of murder and multiple other charges, including robbery, kidnapping, and conspiracy. After a penalty trial, he was sentenced to death for the five counts of murder. An…
Date: January 18, 2024
Docket Number: S274340
Justia Opinion Summary: In the Supreme Court of California, the case revolved around the question of whether trial courts have the inherent authority to dismiss a claim under the Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act of 2004 (PAGA) on the…
Date: December 18, 2023
Docket Number: S275835
Justia Opinion Summary: In the case of The People v. Fernando Rojas, the Supreme Court of California addressed the issue of whether the application of Assembly Bill 333 to the gang-murder special circumstance in section 190.2(a)(22) of the…
Date: December 14, 2023
Docket Number: S272129
Justia Opinion Summary: In the case, a defendant, Mario Rodriguez, was charged with several felonies, each carrying a maximum sentence exceeding two years. In 2018, Rodriguez was found mentally incompetent to stand trial and committed to a…
Date: December 14, 2023
Docket Number: S274943
Justia Opinion Summary: A person identified as O.R. appealed the decision of the Los Angeles County Superior Court to place his child, N.R., under the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (the…
Date: November 27, 2023
Docket Number: S272238
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the court of appeals reversing the judgment of the trial court denying Petitioner's petition for relief and resentencing under the new procedure set forth in Senate Bill No.…
Date: November 20, 2023
Docket Number: S273340
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court held, in response to a request by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, that Cal. Publ. Util. Code 1759 bars a lawsuit that seeks damages resulting from public safety power shutoffs…
Date: November 20, 2023
Docket Number: S275788
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court reversed the judgment of the court of appeal declining to remand this case for resentencing in light of a new law that was enacted after Defendant had been sentenced but while his appeal was still…
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.