Fact-check request: Is the CA Supreme Court dominated by Republicans?

[Athelwulf]

Please, anyone in the know, fill us in on this. Original sources are greatly appreciated.

I read on a page at the San Francisco Green Party's website (the original source was the Green Party of California) that the California Supreme Court is stacked with Republican justices, not Democratic ones. The Wikipedia article on the court says only one of the seven justices is a Democrat, but there is no source given. The article of one of the justices refers to an unnamed San Francisco Chronicle article in which Barbara Boxer says good things about this justice and another one, acknowledging that they are Republicans.

If it is indeed true that the majority of the justices are Republicans, that doesn't bode well with conservative arguments that the SC of CA is full of activists/Nazis/socialists, or whatever they associate marital equality with these days. I'd like to make absolutely certain of this before I start telling people about it.

[kevinmc]

1. We have had nothing but Republicans for Governor except Gray Davis

And He only appointed one ....


About the Supreme Court of California
* Ronald M. George, (since 1991), appointed by Pete Wilson; elevated to Chief Justice in 1996.
* Marvin R. Baxter, (since 1991), Associate Justice; appointed by George Deukmejian.
* Ming W. Chin, (since 1996), Associate Justice; appointed by Pete Wilson.
* Carol A. Corrigan, (since 2006), Associate Justice; appointed by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
* Joyce L. Kennard, (since 1989), Associate Justice; appointed by George Deukmejian
* Carlos R. Moreno, (since 2001), Associate Justice; appointed by Gray Davis
* Kathryn Mickle Werdegar, (since 1994), Associate Justice; appointed by Pete Wilson.













The Supreme Court of California is the state's highest court. Its decisions are binding on all other California state courts.

The court conducts regular sessions in San Francisco, 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 and confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments. The appointments are confirmed by the public at the next general election; justices also come before voters at the end of their 12-year terms.

To be considered for appointment, a person must be an attorney admitted to practice in California or have served as a judge of a court of record in this state for 10 years immediately preceding appointment (Cal. Const., art VI, § 10).

http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/supreme/about.htm

[madmusic]

2. You can tell how conservative a state really is by its court

Only one Dem

http://www.truthcaucus.com/2008/05/15/party-affiliation-of-california-supreme-court-justices

[Athelwulf]

4. Thank you very much!

I wish the page cited the original San Francisco Chronicle article, but I can surely find it given the topic and a solid date range.

[slackmaster]

3. Results count more than where somebody came from

:hi: