Donna Geck recall, Santa Barbara County Superior Court, California (2022)

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Santa Barbara County Superior Court recall
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Officeholders
Donna Geck
Recall status
Did not go to a vote
Signature requirement
12,683
See also
Recall overview
Political recall efforts, 2022
Recalls in California
California recall laws
Special district recalls
Recall reports

An effort to recall Judge Donna Geck from her position on the Santa Barbara County Superior Court in California began in February 2022.[1] The recall was allowed to move forward with circulating petitions on April 14, 2022. Recall supporters had until September 12, 2022, to gather 12,683 signatures. [2]

Geck was appointed to the court in 2010 by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R). Her term was scheduled to be up for election in 2024.[1]

Recall supporters

The recall effort was led by Aurelie Rose. Rose said that in her divorce proceedings and child custody battles with her former husband, Geck did not listen to her. Rose said that Geck favored her former husband, whom Rose described as better connected and better funded. Rose said she found it unfair that her former husband was granted all decision rights over education, health, and religion for their daughter even though they shared custody.[1]

Rose said five to 10 families had contacted her with similar experiences. “I started digging into that, trying to figure out what kind of rights we have,” Rose said.[1]

Recall opponents

In response to the recall effort, Geck denied having any bias or prejudice in her cases. She said she follows the law and reads the full court file before coming to any decisions. She said the decisions she makes are guided by the best interests of the child. “If a party disagrees with a judge’s ruling, the remedy is an appeal, not a proposed recall of an independent constitutional officer,” Geck said.[1]

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing recall in California

Recall supporters published the notice of intent to recall Geck on February 8, 2022. The recall was approved for a petition on April 14, 2022. Recall supporters had until September 12, 2022, to gather 12,683 signatures and send the recall to a vote. [2]

See also

External links

Footnotes