With 17 propositions on the state ballot this year, California voters have plenty to research. So it’s no surprise that they might not be familiar with the candidates for superior court judges or know whether they want to retain an incumbent judge. In this hour, Forum talks about how California elects its judges and what voters can do to become better informed about judicial candidates. We’ll also examine the question of whether the state would be better off with an appointment system.
Further Reading:
- Often Overlooked, State Court Judge Races Can Have a Big Impact (KQED News)
- Why Voters Shouldn’t Be Electing Judges (Jessica Levinson’s 2014 Op-Ed)
- KQED’s Election 2016 Guide
- How Judges in California are Selected (Ballotpedia)
Judicial Election Resources
- California Courts of Appeal website
- Opinions of the California Supreme Court and the Courts of Appeal
- Superior Court Races in California(Ballotpedia)
- Candidate Information for Alameda County Superior Court Race (VotersEdge.org)
- Candidate Information for Marin County Superior Court Race (VotersEdge.org)
- Candidate Information for San Francisco County Superior Court Race (VotersEdge.org)