Litigation

First Filipina American Tapped as CA Chief Justice

By Peter Hardin

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger nominated Tani Cantil-Sakauye to be chief justice of the California Supreme Court on Wednesday. If confirmed, she would become the state’s first Filipina American chief justice, the San Jose Mercury News reported.

The nominee is a Republican appeals court judge regarded as a moderate, according to a Sacramento Bee article. Under California’s selection system, she would have to win approval from a three-member commission and from voters in November before starting a 12-year term.

If Cantil-Sakauye is elevated to chief justice,the seven-member state Supreme Court would have a majority of women justices for the first time.

“She is a living example of the American Dream and when she is confirmed by the voters in November, Judge Cantil-Sakauye will become California’s first Filipina chief justice; adding to our high court’s already rich diversity,” Schwarzenegger said in a news release, Law.com reported.

As of April 1, three states had a female majority on their highest courts: Tennessee, Wisconsin and Michigan, according to the National Center for State Courts. .

To learn about the importance of diversity on the bench, check out Justice at Stake’s issues page on the topic.

Full post as published by The Gavel on July 21, 2010 (boomark / email).