James L. Stoelker
James L. Stoelker was a judge of the Superior Court of Santa Clara County in California. He assumed office in 2011. He left office in 2022.
Stoelker won re-election for judge of the Superior Court of Santa Clara County in California outright in the primary on June 5, 2018, after the primary and general election were canceled.
He was appointed by former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in December 2010 to succeed James C. Emerson.[1]
Education
Stoelker received his undergraduate degree from Santa Clara University and his J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law.[1]
Career
- 2011-2022: Judge, Santa Clara County Superior Court
- 1988-2010: Principal, Mount & Stoelker
- 1987-1988: Partner, Mount, Kraw & Stoelker
- 1984-1987: Partner, Eller, Burt & Stoelker
- 1983-1984: Partner, Garrison, Townsend & Orser
- 1976-1983: Staff litigation attorney, Western Title Insurance
- 1974-1975: Associate attorney, Atwood & Hurst[1]
Elections
2018
Nonpartisan primary election
The primary election was canceled. James L. Stoelker (Nonpartisan) won the election without appearing on the ballot.
Selection method
- See also: Nonpartisan election
The 1,535 judges of the California Superior Courts compete in nonpartisan races in even-numbered years. If a candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote in the June primary election, he or she is declared the winner; if no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote, a runoff between the top two candidates is held during the November general election.[2][3][4][5]
If an incumbent judge is running unopposed in an election, his or her name does not appear on the ballot. The judge is automatically re-elected following the general election.[2]
The chief judge of any given superior court is selected by peer vote of the court's members. He or she serves in that capacity for one or two years, depending on the county.[2]
Qualifications
Candidates are required to have 10 years of experience as a law practitioner or as a judge of a court of record.[2]
2012
Stoelker ran for re-election to the superior court in 2012. As an unopposed incumbent, his name did not appear on the ballot. After the primary election, Stoelker was automatically re-elected.[6]
- See also: California judicial elections, 2012
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 California Office of the Governor, Press Release: "Gov. Schwarzenegger Appoints Five to Santa Clara County Superior Court," December 6, 2010
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: California," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Safeguarding California's judicial election process," August 21, 2011
- ↑ California Elections Code, "Section 8203," accessed May 21, 2014
- ↑ California Elections Code, "Section 8140-8150," accessed May 21, 2014
- ↑ Santa Clara County Elections, Unofficial Primary Election Candidate List
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