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Kathleen O'Leary
Kathleen O'Leary was a judge for Division 3 of the California 4th District Court of Appeal. She assumed office on January 21, 2000. She left office on July 31, 2025.
O'Leary ran for re-election for the Division 3 judge of the California 4th District Court of Appeal. She won in the retention election on November 8, 2022.
O'Leary was appointed by former Governor Gray Davis. Governor Jerry Brown appointed O'Leary presiding justice in December 2011, and she was confirmed on February 10, 2012. She is the first woman to hold this position in the Fourth District.[1]
O'Leary retired from the California Courts of Appeal on July 31, 2025.[2]
Education
O'Leary received her undergraduate degree from Loyola Marymount University. She earned her J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law in 1975.[3]
Career
O'Leary began her career as a private practice attorney in 1975. Her judicial career began in 1981 when she was appointed to the West Orange County Municipal Court. She served on this court until 1986, when she was elevated to the Orange County Superior Court. In 2000, she was appointed to the California Fourth District Court of Appeal.[3]
Awards and associations
Awards
- 2014: Joan Dempsey Klein Award, California Women Lawyers
- 2014: Community Leadership Award, Orange County Lavender Bar Association
- 2010: Saint Thomas More Judge of the Year Award
- 2007: Aranda Access to Justice Award
- 2006: Franklin G. West Award, Orange County Bar Association
- 1999: Jurist of the Year Award, Judicial Council of California
Associations
- Co-chair, Judicial Council of California - Committee on Providing Access and Fairness
- Vice chair, Judicial Council of California - Committee on Financial Accountability and Efficiency
- Executive committee, Commission on the Future of the Courts
- Past member, Judicial Council of California[3]
Elections
2022
See also: California intermediate appellate court elections, 2022
California 4th District Court of Appeal Division 3, Kathleen O'Leary's seat
Kathleen O'Leary was retained to Division 3 of the California 4th District Court of Appeal on November 8, 2022 with 64.5% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
64.5
|
1,443,877 | ||
No |
35.5
|
795,779 | |||
Total Votes |
2,239,656 | ||||
|
|
2014
O'Leary was retained to the 4th District Court of Appeal with 69.9 percent of the vote on November 4, 2014. [4]
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Kathleen O'Leary did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
See also
2022 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Office of the California Governor, "Press Release: Governor Appoints Kathleen E. O'Leary as Presiding Justice of Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division Three," December 27, 2011
- ↑ California Courts Newsletter, "Presiding Justice Kathleen E. O’Leary to retire from the Fourth Appellate District, Division Three," July 15, 2025
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 California Courts, "Kathleen O'Leary biography"
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "General Election -November 4,2014 Official Certified List of Candidates," August 28, 2014
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