California Second District Court of Appeal

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The Ronald Reagan State Building in Los Angeles, CA, partial home to the Second District Court of Appeal

The California Second District Court of Appeal is one of six courts of appeal in California. It covers Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties and is divided into eight divisions. Thirty-two judges comprise the Second District, with four judges per division.

Panels of three judges, randomly selected, decide Second District cases. The district files more than 5,000 appellate opinions and disposes more than 3,700 writ petitions annually.

• Published opinions of the Second District Court of Appeal can be found here.

 

California Second District Court of Appeal
Court information
Judges:	32
Founded:	1905
Salary:	Associates: $280,052
Judicial selection
Method:	Gubernatorial appointment
Term:	12 years

Justices

Judge	Tenure	Appointed By
Maria E. Stratton	2018 - Present	Jerry Brown
Victor Viramontes	November 30, 2022 - Present	Gavin Newsom
John Shepard Wiley Jr.	2018 - Present	Jerry Brown
Matthew Scherb	November 17, 2025 - Present	Gavin Newsom
Gail Ruderman Feuer	June 1, 2018 - Present	Jerry Brown
John Segal	2015 - Present	Jerry Brown
Natalie Stone	May 14, 2024 - Present	Gavin Newsom
Gonzalo Martinez	July 10, 2023 - Present	Gavin Newsom
Arthur Gilbert	1983 - Present	Jerry Brown
Kenneth Yegan	December 27, 1990 - Present	George Deukmejian
Tari Cody	April 17, 2023 - Present	Gavin Newsom
Hernaldo Baltodano	August 3, 2022 - Present	Gavin Newsom
Dorothy C. Kim	2018 - Present	Jerry Brown
Lamar W. Baker	May 22, 2015 - Present	Jerry Brown
Carl H. Moor	2018 - Present	Jerry Brown
Brian M. Hoffstadt	November 25, 2024 - Present	Gavin Newsom
Thomas Willhite	April 4, 2005 - Present	Arnold Schwarzenegger
Audrey Collins	June 28, 2014 - Present	Jerry Brown
Audra Mori	April 17, 2023 - Present	Gavin Newsom
Armen Tamzarian	July 2, 2025 - Present	Gavin Newsom
Anne Harwood Egerton	2017 - Present	Jerry Brown
Lee Edmon	August 8, 2014 - Present	Jerry Brown
Rashida A. Adams	April 17, 2023 - Present	Gavin Newsom
Mark Hanasono	July 2, 2025 - Present	Gavin Newsom
Elwood G. Lui	May 22, 2015 - Present	Jerry Brown
Judith Ashmann-Gerst	2001 - Present	Gray Davis
Victoria Chavez	October 28, 2005 - Present	Arnold Schwarzenegger
Anne K. Richardson	November 25, 2024 - Present	Gavin Newsom
Helen Bendix	2018 - Present	Jerry Brown
Frances Rothschild	April 4, 2005 - Present	Arnold Schwarzenegger
Gregory Weingart	November 30, 2022 - Present	Gavin Newsom
Michelle Kim	November 25, 2024 - Present	Gavin Newsom

Salary

See also: California court salaries and budgets

In 2025, the associate judges of the court received a salary of $280,052, according to the National Center for State Courts.

Former justices

• Richard Aldrich (1994-2017)
• Orville Armstrong (1993-2013)
• Tricia Bigelow (2008-2021)
• Brian S. Currey (2018-2025)
• Roger Boren (1987-2017)
• Halim Dhanidina (2018-2021)
• Norman Epstein (1990-2018)
• Madeleine Flier (2003-2018)
• Frank Jackson (2008-2013)
• Jeffrey W. Johnson (2009-2020)
• Sandy Kriegler (2005-2018)
• Luis A. Lavin (2015-2025)
• Steven Perren (1999-2022)
• Laurence Rubin (2018-2024)
• Martin J. Tangeman (2016-2022)
• Victoria Gerrard Chaney (2009-2024)

Judicial selection

See also: Judicial selection in California

The 106 judges of the California Courts of Appeal are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments. The state bar's Commission on Judicial Nominee Evaluation—also known as the "Jenny Commission"—is required to perform an extensive investigation on prospective appointees. The commission recommends candidates to the governor after examining their qualifications and fitness, ranking them as exceptionally well qualified, well qualified, qualified, or not qualified. The commission is composed of attorneys and public members. Although the governor is not bound to these recommendations, the Commission on Judicial Appointments can approve or veto the appointment by majority vote.

Following confirmation from the Commission on Judicial Appointments, the appointed justice is sworn into office and is subject to voter approval at the next gubernatorial election. The appointed justice must be confirmed by voters via a yes-no retention election. According to the California Constitution, the term for a court of appeals justice is 12 years. If retained by the voters, the appointed justice remains in office but their term may depend on their predecessor's term. If the predecessor served part of their term before leaving office, the appointed justice would be retained to serve the remainder of their predecessor's term. This would be for either four or eight years. At the end of that term, the justice again must be confirmed by the voters at a gubernatorial election to begin a new 12-year term. If a justice has been appointed to a seat where the predecessor's term would have expired the January 1 immediately after that November gubernatorial election, then the justice would serve a full 12-year term.

Qualifications

To serve as a justice, a candidate must have practiced law for at least 10 years in California or served as a judge in California for at least 10 years.

Presiding justice

The court uses the same process described above for selecting a presiding justice. The presiding justice for each district is chosen by the governor and is confirmed by the commission. In a court of appeals with more than one division, the chief justice of the supreme court may select a presiding justice to act as the administrative presiding justice. The administrative presiding justice serves for a period specified in the designation order. In a court of appeals with only one division, the presiding justice acts as the administrative presiding justice.

Vacancies

Vacancies are filled by gubernatorial appointment. Appointed judges are required to participate in yes-no retention elections occurring at the time of the next gubernatorial race, which is held every four years.

Elections

• 2030
• 2026
• 2022
• 2018

See also: California intermediate appellate court elections, 2030

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 1

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 2

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 2

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 3

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 5

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 5

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 6

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 7

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 8

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

See also: California intermediate appellate court elections, 2026

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 1

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 1

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 2

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 3

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 3

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 4

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 4

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 5

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 6

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 6

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 7

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 7

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 8

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 8

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

See also: California intermediate appellate court elections, 2022

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 1

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 1

Frances Rothschild was retained to Division 1 of the California 2nd District Court of Appeal on November 8, 2022 with 70.7% of the vote.

	Retention Vote	%	Votes
✔	Yes	70.7	1,487,335
	No	29.3	614,984
	Total Votes		2,102,319

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The results have been certified. Source

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 2

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 2

Judith Ashmann-Gerst was retained to Division 2 of the California 2nd District Court of Appeal on November 8, 2022 with 76.1% of the vote.

	Retention Vote	%	Votes
✔	Yes	76.1	1,567,833
	No	23.9	493,147
	Total Votes		2,060,980

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The results have been certified. Source

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 3

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 3

Luis A. Lavin was retained to Division 3 of the California 2nd District Court of Appeal on November 8, 2022 with 72.1% of the vote.

	Retention Vote	%	Votes
✔	Yes	72.1	1,474,762
	No	27.9	571,940
	Total Votes		2,046,702

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The results have been certified. Source

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 4

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 4

Brian S. Currey was retained to Division 4 of the California 2nd District Court of Appeal on November 8, 2022 with 70.6% of the vote.

	Retention Vote	%	Votes
✔	Yes	70.6	1,438,236
	No	29.4	598,310
	Total Votes		2,036,546

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The results have been certified. Source

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 4

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 4

Audrey Collins was retained to Division 4 of the California 2nd District Court of Appeal on November 8, 2022 with 73.6% of the vote.

	Retention Vote	%	Votes
✔	Yes	73.6	1,511,033
	No	26.4	542,077
	Total Votes		2,053,110

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The results have been certified. Source

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 5

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 5

Lamar W. Baker was retained to Division 5 of the California 2nd District Court of Appeal on November 8, 2022 with 72.5% of the vote.

	Retention Vote	%	Votes
✔	Yes	72.5	1,479,099
	No	27.5	560,772
	Total Votes		2,039,871

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The results have been certified. Source

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 5

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 5

Laurence Rubin was retained to Division 5 of the California 2nd District Court of Appeal on November 8, 2022 with 72.3% of the vote.

	Retention Vote	%	Votes
✔	Yes	72.3	1,491,151
	No	27.7	571,732
	Total Votes		2,062,883

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The results have been certified. Source

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 6

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 6

Hernaldo Baltodano was retained to Division 6 of the California 2nd District Court of Appeal on November 8, 2022 with 71.8% of the vote.

	Retention Vote	%	Votes
✔	Yes	71.8	1,463,446
	No	28.2	575,050
	Total Votes		2,038,496

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The results have been certified. Source

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 7

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 7

John Segal was retained to Division 7 of the California 2nd District Court of Appeal on November 8, 2022 with 71.1% of the vote.

	Retention Vote	%	Votes
✔	Yes	71.1	1,443,683
	No	28.9	586,370
	Total Votes		2,030,053

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The results have been certified. Source

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 8

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 8

Maria E. Stratton was retained to Division 8 of the California 2nd District Court of Appeal on November 8, 2022 with 73.1% of the vote.

	Retention Vote	%	Votes
✔	Yes	73.1	1,507,073
	No	26.9	555,288
	Total Votes		2,062,361

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The results have been certified. Source

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 8

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 8

John Shepard Wiley Jr. was retained to Division 8 of the California 2nd District Court of Appeal on November 8, 2022 with 70.2% of the vote.

	Retention Vote	%	Votes
✔	Yes	70.2	1,422,734
	No	29.8	602,952
	Total Votes		2,025,686

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The results have been certified. Source

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 8

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 8

Elizabeth A. Grimes was retained to Division 8 of the California 2nd District Court of Appeal on November 8, 2022 with 77.0% of the vote.

	Retention Vote	%	Votes
✔	Yes	77.0	1,569,214
	No	23.0	469,912
	Total Votes		2,039,126

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The results have been certified. Source

See also: California intermediate appellate court elections, 2018

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 1

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 1

Helen Bendix was retained to Division 1 of the California 2nd District Court of Appeal on November 6, 2018 with 77.4% of the vote.

	Retention Vote	%	Votes
✔	Yes	77.4	2,018,052
	No	22.6	590,706
	Total Votes		2,608,758

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The results have been certified. Source

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 1

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 1

Victoria Gerrard Chaney was retained to Division 1 of the California 2nd District Court of Appeal on November 6, 2018 with 72.2% of the vote.

	Retention Vote	%	Votes
✔	Yes	72.2	1,894,428
	No	27.8	731,245
	Total Votes		2,625,673

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The results have been certified. Source

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 2

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 2

Victoria Chavez was retained to Division 2 of the California 2nd District Court of Appeal on November 6, 2018 with 74.5% of the vote.

	Retention Vote	%	Votes
✔	Yes	74.5	1,920,874
	No	25.5	658,028
	Total Votes		2,578,902

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The results have been certified. Source

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 2

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 2

Elwood G. Lui was retained to Division 2 of the California 2nd District Court of Appeal on November 6, 2018 with 59.6% of the vote.

	Retention Vote	%	Votes
✔	Yes	59.6	1,172,770
	No	40.4	795,048
	Total Votes		1,967,818

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The results have been certified. Source

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 3

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 3

Halim Dhanidina was retained to Division 3 of the California 2nd District Court of Appeal on November 6, 2018 with 66.4% of the vote.

	Retention Vote	%	Votes
✔	Yes	66.4	1,680,033
	No	33.6	848,475
	Total Votes		2,528,508

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The results have been certified. Source

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 3

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 3

Anne Harwood Egerton was retained to Division 3 of the California 2nd District Court of Appeal on November 6, 2018 with 63.5% of the vote.

	Retention Vote	%	Votes
✔	Yes	63.5	1,197,935
	No	36.5	688,207
	Total Votes		1,886,142

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The results have been certified. Source

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 3

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 3

Luis A. Lavin was retained to Division 3 of the California 2nd District Court of Appeal on November 6, 2018 with 71.9% of the vote.

	Retention Vote	%	Votes
✔	Yes	71.9	1,823,743
	No	28.1	713,749
	Total Votes		2,537,492

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The results have been certified. Source

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 4

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 4

Nora Manella was retained to Division 4 of the California 2nd District Court of Appeal on November 6, 2018 with 78.3% of the vote.

	Retention Vote	%	Votes
✔	Yes	78.3	1,993,585
	No	21.7	551,067
	Total Votes		2,544,652

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The results have been certified. Source

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 4

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 4

Thomas Willhite was retained to Division 4 of the California 2nd District Court of Appeal on November 6, 2018 with 62.9% of the vote.

	Retention Vote	%	Votes
✔	Yes	62.9	1,575,948
	No	37.1	930,026
	Total Votes		2,505,974

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The results have been certified. Source

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 5

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 5

Dorothy C. Kim was retained to Division 5 of the California 2nd District Court of Appeal on November 6, 2018 with 74.1% of the vote.

	Retention Vote	%	Votes
✔	Yes	74.1	1,883,381
	No	25.9	657,320
	Total Votes		2,540,701

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The results have been certified. Source

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 5

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 5

Carl H. Moor was retained to Division 5 of the California 2nd District Court of Appeal on November 6, 2018 with 69.6% of the vote.

	Retention Vote	%	Votes
✔	Yes	69.6	1,737,723
	No	30.4	759,942
	Total Votes		2,497,665

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The results have been certified. Source

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 5

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 5

Lamar W. Baker was retained to Division 5 of the California 2nd District Court of Appeal on November 6, 2018 with 71.6% of the vote.

	Retention Vote	%	Votes
✔	Yes	71.6	1,767,943
	No	28.4	700,169
	Total Votes		2,468,112

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The results have been certified. Source

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 6

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 6

Arthur Gilbert was retained to Division 6 of the California 2nd District Court of Appeal on November 6, 2018 with 70.9% of the vote.

	Retention Vote	%	Votes
✔	Yes	70.9	1,755,957
	No	29.1	721,126
	Total Votes		2,477,083

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The results have been certified. Source

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 6

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 6

Martin J. Tangeman was retained to Division 6 of the California 2nd District Court of Appeal on November 6, 2018 with 69.2% of the vote.

	Retention Vote	%	Votes
✔	Yes	69.2	1,709,960
	No	30.8	760,905
	Total Votes		2,470,865

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The results have been certified. Source

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 7

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 7

Gail Ruderman Feuer was retained to Division 7 of the California 2nd District Court of Appeal on November 6, 2018 with 71.8% of the vote.

	Retention Vote	%	Votes
✔	Yes	71.8	1,794,035
	No	28.2	705,141
	Total Votes		2,499,176

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The results have been certified. Source

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 7

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 7

John Segal was retained to Division 7 of the California 2nd District Court of Appeal on November 6, 2018 with 70.4% of the vote.

	Retention Vote	%	Votes
✔	Yes	70.4	1,748,106
	No	29.6	734,000
	Total Votes		2,482,106

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The results have been certified. Source

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 8

California 2nd District Court of Appeal Division 8

Tricia Bigelow was retained to Division 8 of the California 2nd District Court of Appeal on November 6, 2018 with 73.1% of the vote.

	Retention Vote	%	Votes
✔	Yes	73.1	1,829,916
	No	26.9	673,772
	Total Votes		2,503,688

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The results have been certified. Source

Previous election results

2014

Retention

Judge	Election Vote
CollinsAudrey Collins	71.0% A
HoffstadtBrian M. Hoffstadt	67.8% A
JohnsonJeffrey W. Johnson	75.8% A
EdmonLee Edmon	70.6% A
ManellaNora Manella	75.3% A
TurnerPaul Turner (California)
YeganKenneth Yegan	73.3% A
PerlussDennis Perluss	67.9% A
RubinLaurence Rubin	70.2% A
FlierMadeleine Flier	69.9% A
RothschildFrances Rothschild	70.7% A

Ethics

The California Code of Judicial Ethics sets forth ethical guidelines and principles for the conduct of judges and judicial candidates in California. It consists of six canons:

• Canon 1: "A judge shall uphold the integrity and independence of the judiciary."
• Canon 2: "A judge shall avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in all of the judge’s activities."
• Canon 3: "A judge shall perform the duties of judicial office impartially, competently, and diligently."
• Canon 4: "A judge shall so conduct the judge’s quasi-judicial and extrajudicial activities as to minimize the risk of conflict with judicial obligations."
• Canon 5: "A judge or candidate for judicial office shall not engage in political or campaign activity that is inconsistent with the independence, integrity, or impartiality of the judiciary."
• Canon 6: "Compliance with the code of judicial ethics."

The full text of the California Code of Judicial Ethics can be found here.

Removal of judges

Judges in California may be removed in one of three ways:

• By a two-thirds vote of the senate after impeachment by the assembly
• By a recall election through popular vote
• By the commission on judicial performance, although its decisions are reviewable by the supreme court

State profile

Demographic data for California
	California	U.S.
Total population:	38,993,940	316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):	155,779	3,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:	61.8%	73.6%
Black/African American:	5.9%	12.6%
Asian:	13.7%	5.1%
Native American:	0.7%	0.8%
Pacific Islander:	0.4%	0.2%
Two or more:	4.5%	3%
Hispanic/Latino:	38.4%	17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:	81.8%	86.7%
College graduation rate:	31.4%	29.8%
Income
Median household income:	$61,818	$53,889
Persons below poverty level:	18.2%	11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in California. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

Presidential voting pattern

See also: Presidential voting trends in California

California voted for the Democratic candidate in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.

More California coverage on Ballotpedia

• Elections in California
• United States congressional delegations from California
• Public policy in California
• Endorsers in California
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• More...

See also

California	Judicial Selection	More Courts
Courts in California California Courts of Appeal California Supreme Court	Elections: 2026 • 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 Gubernatorial appointments Judicial selection in California	Federal courts State courts Local courts

External links

• California Courts, "2nd District Court of Appeals"

Footnotes

California courts

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Federal courts:

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Central District of California, Eastern District of California, Northern District of California, Southern District of California • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Central District of California, Eastern District of California, Northern District of California, Southern District of California

State courts:

California Supreme Court • California Courts of Appeal • California Superior Courts

State resources:

Courts in California • California judicial elections • Judicial selection in California