California Courts of Appeal

California Courts of Appeal
Hendrik M. Stoops Lugo · Public domain · source
Court name	Courts of Appeal of California
Established	1904
Jurisdiction	California
Location	Sacramento, California, Los Angeles, California, San Francisco, California, San Diego, California, San Jose, California, Fresno, California, Santa Ana, California, Pasadena, California, Oakland, California, Long Beach, California
Type	Appellate courts
Authority	California Constitution, California Legislature
Appeals to	Supreme Court of California
Terms	Six years (retention)
Positions	105 authorized

California Courts of Appeal The California Courts of Appeal are the intermediate appellate tribunals for the state of California. They review decisions from the Superior Courts of California and interpret state statutes, regulations, and constitutional provisions under guidance from the Supreme Court of California. These courts handle criminal, civil, juvenile, family, probate, and juvenile dependency matters originating from across Los Angeles County, San Francisco County, San Diego County, and other counties in California.

Overview and jurisdiction

The Courts of Appeal exercise appellate jurisdiction to decide appeals as provided by the California Constitution and statutes enacted by the California Legislature. They issue published opinions that bind Superior Courts of California within their respective divisions unless overruled by the Supreme Court of California. Cases reaching the appellate level often implicate statutes like the California Evidence Code, California Penal Code, California Civil Code, and administrative schemes administered by agencies such as the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the California Department of Social Services. The appellate panels interpret precedents from the Supreme Court of California, federal tribunals like the United States Supreme Court, and decisions from other state courts including the New York Court of Appeals, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, and the Florida District Courts of Appeal.

Structure and divisions

The Courts of Appeal are organized into six appellate districts: the First Appellate District (California), Second Appellate District (California), Third Appellate District (California), Fourth Appellate District (California), Fifth Appellate District (California), and Sixth Appellate District (California). Each district is subdivided into divisions such as Division One and Division Two within the Second Appellate District (California), accommodating regions including Los Angeles County, Orange County, Santa Clara County, Fresno County, and San Joaquin County. The districts maintain panels of three judges drawing from cities like San Francisco, Oakland, Pasadena, Long Beach, Anaheim, and Sacramento. Administrative ties connect to entities like the Judicial Council of California and the California Office of Administrative Law.

Appellate procedure and caseload

Appeals proceed from trial records prepared by the clerk of the Superior Courts of California and briefs filed by litigants including parties from firms such as Latham & Watkins, Gibson Dunn, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, and public entities like the California Attorney General's Office. The Courts of Appeal decide petitions for rehearing, writs including writs of habeas corpus and mandamus, and direct appeals following verdicts or sentences under the California Rules of Court. Significant caseloads have involved disputes over statutes like the California Environmental Quality Act and regulatory actions by the California Public Utilities Commission and California Air Resources Board. The appellate process interacts with federal litigation in venues such as the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.

Judges and appointments

Judges of the Courts of Appeal are appointed by the Governor of California from candidates vetted by the Judicial Nomination Commission and confirmed through retention elections administered by the Secretary of State of California. Notable governors involved in appointments include Ronald Reagan, Jerry Brown, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Gavin Newsom, Gray Davis, and Pete Wilson. Judicial nominees often have backgrounds at institutions like Stanford Law School, UC Berkeley School of Law, Harvard Law School, Yale Law School, University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, and professional experience with the American Civil Liberties Union, Public Defender Service, federal agencies like the United States Department of Justice, or private firms such as Morrison & Foerster. Judges may face retention campaigns supported or opposed by organizations including the California State Bar, League of California Cities, and interest groups like the California Chamber of Commerce.

Notable decisions and precedent

Divisional panels have issued influential opinions in cases affecting rights under the California Constitution and state statutes, sometimes prompting review by the Supreme Court of California. Landmark appellate rulings have touched on issues related to the Ralph M. Brown Act, Proposition 13 (1978), Proposition 8 (2008), Family Code (California), Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act, and sentencing rules under the Three Strikes Law. Appellate decisions have intersected with federal precedents from the United States Supreme Court and doctrines from cases like Brown v. Board of Education, Miranda v. Arizona, and Roe v. Wade as they inform constitutional analysis. High-profile matters have involved parties such as Walt Disney Company, Chevron Corporation, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Apple Inc., and government actors like the Los Angeles County District Attorney.

Administration and court facilities

Administrative oversight is coordinated by the Judicial Council of California and operational units such as the Administrative Office of the Courts. Courthouses and chambers are located in historic buildings like the Horton Plaza area in San Diego, the Stanford Court in San Francisco, county courthouses in Fresno, Santa Ana, and the Stanford Law School-adjacent legal complex in Palo Alto. Facilities incorporate security protocols developed with agencies like the California Highway Patrol and county sheriffs including the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and the San Francisco Sheriff's Office. Technology initiatives coordinate with the California Department of Technology and programs modeled after efforts by the Federal Judicial Center.

History and development

The appellate system evolved from judicial reforms undertaken in the early 20th century under leaders such as Hiram Johnson and codified through amendments to the California Constitution and statutes by the California Legislature. Historical milestones link to events like the expansion of the judiciary during the Progressive Era, legal battles in the California Gold Rush aftermath, and jurisprudential shifts during the Civil Rights Movement. Precedential growth has been influenced by scholars from institutions like UC Berkeley School of Law, Stanford Law School, and practitioners including justices elevated to the Supreme Court of California such as Roger Traynor and Bird M. Sproul.

Category:California state courts