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Michael D. Coughlan
Michael D. Coughlan was a judge of the Superior Court of San Joaquin County in California. He assumed office in 2005. He left office on January 6, 2025.
Coughlan won re-election for judge of the Superior Court of San Joaquin County in California outright in the primary on June 5, 2018, after the primary and general election were canceled.
He was appointed to the court by former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. He succeeded James Edward Cadle.[1][2]
Biography
Education
Coughlan received a bachelor's degree from the University of the Pacific and a J.D. from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law.[2]
Career
- 2005-Present: Judge, Superior Court of San Joaquin County
- 2001-2005: Attorney in private practice
- 1993-2001: Managing lead attorney, California State Auto Association
- Prior to 1993: Attorney, Mayall Law Firm[2]
Elections
2018
Nonpartisan primary election
The primary election was canceled. Michael D. Coughlan (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.[3][4][5][6]
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.[3]
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.[3]
Qualifications
Candidates are required to have 10 years of experience as a law practitioner or as a judge of a court of record.[3]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ California Courts, "Trial Courts Roster," accessed November 11, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Office of the Governor, "Governor Schwarzenegger Appoints Michael Coughlan to the San Joaquin County Superior Court," May 2005
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 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
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
