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California elections for top judicial posts: Big stakes, little info available to the public

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California elections for top judicial posts: Big stakes, little info available to the public


Of all the choices dealing with California voters subsequent Tuesday, few may have such vital penalties, primarily based on such little info, as whether or not they need to retain the state’s high judicial officers for phrases of as much as 12 years.

For every of the 4 California Supreme Courtroom justices on the poll, the secretary of state’s
Voter Data Information
lists their title and title, the month they have been admitted to the bar, the colleges they attended and their previous authorized employment and judicial positions. The League of Ladies Voters has just a little extra in its on-line
Voter’s Edge
information, with hyperlinks to their official court docket biographies (which can or could not point out the governor who appointed them), an inventory of their neighborhood actions, a photograph and no matter further info a justice chooses to supply.

That’s all. Nothing concerning the size of the time period they’re searching for — which may very well be 4, eight or 12 years, relying on their predecessor’s unfinished time period — their views, or their previous rulings. The identical is true for the Courtroom of Enchantment justices operating for retention in every of the state’s six appellate districts.

In most elections, such gaps can be crammed by the candidate in marketing campaign supplies, accessible on a web site. However the final time a state Supreme Courtroom justice needed to marketing campaign for voter retention was in 1998, a yr after the court docket overturned a state regulation requiring parental consent for minors’ abortions. Over opposition from anti-abortion teams, Chief Justice Ronald George, writer of the ruling, received a brand new time period with 75% of the vote, and Justice Ming Chin, who joined the 4-3 determination, was retained with a 69% majority.

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They have been the primary justices to face organized opposition since 1986, when Chief Justice Rose Fowl and Justices Cruz Reynoso and Joseph Grodin have been denied new phrases by the voters after a marketing campaign that targeted on their choices to overturn dying sentences, although it was financed by enterprise teams sad with the court docket’s rulings in shopper instances. Fowl, the court docket’s first-ever feminine justice, was rejected by 66% of the voters; Reynoso, the primary Latino justice, by 60%, and Grodin by 40%.

They’re the one state Supreme Courtroom justices to be voted out of workplace since 1934, when the state ended contests between competing candidates for its high courts and as an alternative let incumbents search yes-or-no retention votes for brand spanking new phrases. Regionally, a county’s Superior Courtroom judges might be challenged by opponents in nonpartisan elections, and candidates may run towards one another for open judgeships. However most incumbent judges face no opposition and are robotically re-elected to six-year phrases.

Since 1998, a number of the state Supreme Courtroom’s justices have appeared on the poll each 4 years, however since they confronted no organized opposition, none has needed to mount a marketing campaign or spend cash on the election. And all have received retention with help from between two-thirds and three-fourths of the voters. The identical appears possible this yr when voters take into account new phrases for Justice Patricia Guerrero, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s nominee to grow to be chief justice, her Supreme Courtroom colleagues Goodwin Liu, Martin Jenkins and Joshua Groban, and appellate justices operating in regional districts.

These courts, in the meantime, proceed to rule on such contested points because the
employment standing of drivers
for ride-hailing corporations like Uber and Lyft,
requirements for bail
in legal instances and
protections for endangered animal and plant species
below state regulation.

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So how can Californians receive extra info earlier than voting on the leaders of the state’s judicial system? Apart from looking on-line sources (together with previous protection, and
on-line voter info guides like The Chronicle’s), there aren’t many assets simply accessible.

“Through the Nineteen Nineties, and nonetheless in all probability at present, justices dealing with uncontested reelection (aside from a sure or no vote) in all probability nonetheless really feel they will rely principally on newspaper editorials and bar affiliation endorsements to help them besides in essentially the most extremely uncommon conditions,” George, who retired as chief justice in 2010, informed The Chronicle. “This reliance appears to be sufficient — aside from the extremely uncommon scenario of an organized ‘no’ vote.”

An analogous message got here from his successor, Tani Cantil-Sakauye, who’s retiring in January after 12 years of management that has steered her court docket towards unanimity in most of its choices. Like George, she has held a number of the court docket’s classes in native communities and invited college students to pose inquiries to the justices afterward.

“The concept justices ought to ‘marketing campaign’ for retention in a state the place judicial positions are non-partisan appears at odds with a justice’s position to use the regulation pretty and objectively and to guard Californians’ civil and constitutional rights each day,” stated Cathal Conneely, a spokesperson for the chief justice.

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He famous that every justice has been reviewed by a state fee, is confirmed at a public listening to, considers instances at proceedings that may be seen in particular person or on-line, is ruled by moral requirements administered by a state fee, and writes opinions which are publicly accessible.

“The judiciary depends on public belief and confidence, the power to be deliberative, and to generally make controversial or unpopular choices primarily based on the rule of regulation that protects us all,” Conneely stated. “However a public establishment just like the Supreme Courtroom of California additionally depends on common and knowledgeable protection by the Fourth Property — authorized affairs correspondents or reporters accustomed to how the court docket operates are capable of present the general public with insights, interpretations, and evaluation…. Details about our work is hidden in plain sight.”

For the justices, it’s an strategy that is sensible, stated Richard Hasen, a UCLA regulation professor and election regulation professional.

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“I do assume that voters who wish to get extra info on justices can discover it on information and public coverage web sites,” Hasen stated. However he stated the justices “don’t have any cause to attempt to enhance the prominence of their races, so they might not push for it.”

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle employees author. Electronic mail: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko



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California

Caitlyn Jenner says she'd 'destroy' Kamala Harris in hypothetical race to be CA gov

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Caitlyn Jenner says she'd 'destroy' Kamala Harris in hypothetical race to be CA gov


Caitlyn Jenner, the gold-medal Olympian-turned reality TV personality, is considering another run for Governor of California. This time, she says, if she were to go up against Vice President Kamala Harris, she would “destroy her.” 

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Jenner, who publicly came out as transgender nearly 10 years ago, made a foray into politics when she ran as a Republican during the recall election that attempted to unseat Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2021. Jenner only received one percent of the vote and was not considered a serious candidate. 

Jenner posted this week on social media that she’s having conversations with “many people” and hopes to have an announcement soon about whether she will run. 

Caitlyn Jenner speaks at the 4th annual Womens March LA: Women Rising at Pershing Square on January 18, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Chelsea Guglielmino/Getty Images)

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She has also posted in Trumpian-style all caps: “MAKE CA GREAT AGAIN!”

As for VP Harris, she has not indicated any future plans for when she leaves office. However, a recent poll suggests Harris would have a sizable advantage should she decide to run in 2026. At that point, Newsom cannot run again because of term limits. 

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If Jenner decides to run and wins, it would mark the nation and state’s first transgender governor.  



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Northern California 6-year-old, parents hailed as heroes for saving woman who crashed into canal

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Northern California 6-year-old, parents hailed as heroes for saving woman who crashed into canal


LIVE OAK — A six-year-old and her parents are being called heroes by a Northern California community for jumping into a canal to save a 75-year-old woman who drove off the road. 

It happened on Larkin Road near Paseo Avenue in the Sutter County community of Live Oak on Monday. 

“I just about lost her, but I didn’t,” said Terry Carpenter, husband of the woman who was rescued. “We got more chances.” 

Terry said his wife of 33 years, Robin Carpenter, is the love of his life and soulmate. He is grateful he has been granted more time to spend with her after she survived her car crashing off a two-lane road and overturning into a canal. 

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“She’s doing really well,” Terry said. “No broken bones, praise the Lord.” 

It is what some call a miracle that could have had a much different outcome without a family of good Samaritans. 

“Her lips were purple,” said Ashley Martin, who helped rescue the woman. “There wasn’t a breath at all. I was scared.” 

Martin and her husband, Cyle Johnson, are being hailed heroes by the Live Oak community for jumping into the canal, cutting Robin out of her seat belt and pulling her head above water until first responders arrived. 

“She was literally submerged underwater,” Martin said. “She had a back brace on. Apparently, she just had back surgery. So, I grabbed her brace from down below and I flipped her upward just in a quick motion to get her out of that water.” 

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The couple said the real hero was their six-year-old daughter, Cayleigh Johnson. 

“It was scary,” Cayleigh said. “So the car was going like this, and it just went boom, right into the ditch.” 

Cayleigh was playing outside and screamed for her parents who were inside the house near the canal.

I spoke with Robin from her hospital bed over the phone who told us she is in a lot of pain but grateful.

“The thing I can remember is I started falling asleep and then I was going over the bump and I went into the ditch and that’s all I remember,” Robin said. 

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It was a split-second decision for a family who firefighters said helped save a stranger’s life. 

“It’s pretty unique that someone would jump in and help somebody that they don’t even know,” said Battalion Chief for Sutter County Fire Richard Epperson. 

Robin is hopeful that she will be released from the hospital on Wednesday in time to be home for Thanksgiving. 

“She gets Thanksgiving and Christmas now with her family and grandkids,” Martin said. 

Terry and Robin are looking forward to eventually meeting the family who helped save Robin’s life. The family expressed the same feelings about meeting the woman they helped when she is out of the hospital. 

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“I can’t wait for my baby to get home,” Terry said. 



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California may exclude Tesla from EV rebate program

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California may exclude Tesla from EV rebate program


California Gov. Gavin Newsom may exclude Tesla and other automakers from an electric vehicle (EV) rebate program if the incoming Trump administration scraps a federal tax credit for electric car purchases.

Newsom proposed creating a new version of the state’s Clean Vehicle Rebate Program, which was phased out in 2023 after funding more than 594,000 vehicles and saving more than 456 million gallons of fuel, the governor’s office said in a news release on Monday.

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“Consumers continue to prove the skeptics wrong – zero-emission vehicles are here to stay,” Newsom said in a statement. “We’re not turning back on a clean transportation future – we’re going to make it more affordable for people to drive vehicles that don’t pollute.”

The proposed rebates would be funded with money from the state’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which is funded by polluters under the state’s cap-and-trade program, the governor’s office said. Officials did not say how much the program would cost or save consumers.

NEBRASKA AG LAUNCHES ASSAULT AGAINST CALIFORNIA’S ELECTRIC VEHICLE PUSH

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday proposed creating a new version of the state’s Clean Vehicle Rebate Program if the incoming Trump administration scraps a federal tax credit for electric car purchases. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images, File / Getty Images)

They would also include changes to promote innovation and competition in the zero-emission vehicles market – changes that could prevent automakers like Tesla from qualifying for the rebates.

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Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who relocated Tesla’s corporate headquarters from California to Texas in 2021, responded to the possibility of having Tesla EVs left out of the program.

Tesla automobile plugged in and charging a Supercharger rapid battery charging station for the electric vehicle company Tesla Motors, in the Silicon Valley town of Mountain View, California, August 24, 2016.

Tesla and other automakers may not qualify for the proposed tax credits, according to the governor’s office. (Getty Images, File / Getty Images)

“Even though Tesla is the only company who manufactures their EVs in California! This is insane,” Musk wrote on X, which he also owns.

BENTLEY PUSHES BACK ALL-EV LINEUP TIMELINE TO 2035

Those buying or leasing Tesla vehicles accounted for about 42% of the state’s rebates, The Associated Press reported, citing data from the California Air Resources Board.

Newsom’s office told Fox Business Digital that the proposal is intended to foster market competition, and any potential market cap is subject to negotiation with the state Legislature. 

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TSLA TESLA INC. 338.59 -13.97 -3.96%

“Under a potential market cap, and depending on what the cap is, there’s a possibility that Tesla and other automakers could be excluded,” the governor’s office said. “But that’s again subject to negotiations with the legislature.”

Newsom’s office noted that such market caps have been part of rebate programs since George W. Bush’s administration in 2005.

Democrat California Gov. Gavin Newsom

Newsom has pushed Californians to replace gas-powered vehicles with zero-emission vehicles. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images / Getty Images)

Federal tax credits for EVs are currently worth up to $7,500 for new zero-emission vehicles. President-elect Trump has previously vowed to end the credit.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

California has surpassed 2 million zero-emission vehicles sold, according to the governor’s office. The state, however, could face a $2 billion budget deficit next year, Reuters reported, citing a non-partisan legislative estimate released last week.

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