What They Are and How to Learn More about the Appellate Courts
and the Justices Who Serve on Them Every four years, more than a
third of California’s 99 court of appeal justices face
California voters for retention. In addition, several of the
seven justices on the California Supreme Court face retention
elections every four years. These are not contested elections;
no one may run against the justices. Instead, the voters simply
decide whether the justice shall continue to serve. If a
majority of voters cast "yes" votes for a particular justice,
that justice remains for another term. The Code of Judicial
Ethics requires all judges "to be faithful to the law regardless
of partisan interests, public clamor or fear of criticism . . .
." The retention election system, adopted by California voters
as part of the State Constitution, is designed specifically to
foster judges’ independence from improper external pressures.
Because supreme court justices hold statewide offices, voters
everywhere in California decide w