The Power of Democracy Steering Committee

Established by Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye, the Power of Democracy Steering Committee guides and supports her civic education initiatives to further Californians’ understanding of their judicial branch. Highlights include spearheading the Civic Learning Awards for California Public Schools, convening two summits on civic education and launching the California Task Force on K–12 Civic Learning.

The committee builds on recommendations of the Commission for Impartial Courts Final Report, Recommendations 37 and 43.

The Chief Justice appoints members of the steering committee for two-year terms.

Judicial Council Public Affairs staff support the steering committee.

The Chief Justice serves as the honorary chair and appoints a chair of the steering committee and members of the steering committee represented as follows:

Justices of the Court of Appeal involved in civic education and public information	Hon. Judith D. McConnell, Chair Administrative Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District   Hon. Andrea L. Hoch Associate Justice of the Court of Appeal Third Appellate District
Judicial officers of the superior court involved in civic education and public information	Hon. Carolyn M. Caietti Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego   Hon. Kristen A. Lucena Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Butte Hon. Charles A. Smiley III Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda Hon. David S. Wesley Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles
Federal court representatives	Hon. Consuelo María “Connie” Callahan Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit   Hon. Frank C. Damrell, Jr. (Ret.) Senior Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California Hon. Raymond C. Fisher Senior Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Hon. Kimberly J. Mueller Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
State Supreme Court representative	Ms. Alice V. Collins Supervising Supreme Court Attorney Supreme Court of California
California Secretary of State or their representative	Hon. Alex Padilla California Secretary of State
State Superintendent of Public Instruction representative	Mr. Jason Spencer   Principal Advisor to the Superintendent of Public Instruction California Department of Education
California Bar Foundation representative	Ms. Sonia Gonzales Executive Director California Bar Foundation
Law school representative	Dr. Stephen C. Ferruolo Dean and Professor of Law University of San Diego, School of Law
County Superintendent of Schools/representative of the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association (CCSESA)	Mr. David W. Gordon Superintendent of Schools Sacramento County Office of Education
Civic education leader	Dr. Michelle M. Herczog Consultant, History-Social Science Los Angeles County Office of Education
Student Representative	Ms. Marley Fortin Rio Americano High School CIVITAS Academy

The Civic Learning Award for California public elementary, middle, and high schools, co-sponsored by California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye and California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, spotlights successful efforts to engage students in civic learning and identifies models that can be replicated in other schools. 

The awards are presented to California schools based on the depth and breadth of their civic learning courses or programs.  An expert panel of judges carefully selects the schools for the award.

Each year, the three schools earning the Award of Excellence, the highest honor, receive a visit from Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye. Judicial officers recognize schools receiving Awards of Distinction and Awards of Merit.

More than 180 schools in 26 counties have been recognized to date.  A list of all recipients is available here.

Funding for the Civic Learning Award program is generously provided by the California Bar Foundation.

The California Task Force on K-12 Civic Learning was appointed by Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson.

The purpose of the Task Force was to bring definition to the skills, knowledge, and dispositions our students need to be informed and engaged citizens and community members, including serving as jurors and court-users. The Task Force’s final report is a blueprint for how we can achieve these outcomes for all students in California.

Since its publication in 2014, the final report has:

• Informed state curriculum framework updates, which now indicate that the goal is to prepare students for college, career, and civic life, and provide vibrant examples of civic learning at each grade span.
• Inspired the formation of county-based Civic Learning Partnerships that collaborate with local school districts to support civic learning, inclusive of the judicial branch.

More details about work of this task force is available on the State of California Dept of Education website.  Funding for the California Task Force on K-12 Civic Learning was generously provided by the California Bar Foundation.

2017 Civic Learning Summit 2.0

At a summit convened by California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, justices, judges, educators, and students from around the state gathered to talk about the progress they’ve made in the last four years in advocating for civic education in California and to discuss next steps. The Summit, held Feb 14 in Sacramento, featured Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, and State Superintendent of Education Tom Torlakson. Learn more in the California Courts Newsroom

2013 Civic Learning California Summit: Making Democracy Work
Sacramento, CA
Feb 28, 2013

8:30–9:30a	Opening Remarks: Justice Judith D. McConnell, Administrative Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye  watch video Secretary of State Debra Brown (pictured left)
9:55–10:15a	Civic Learning Awards State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson Student Address Diana Ledezma Student, Alliance Judy Ivie Burton Technology Academy, Los Angeles  watch video
10:15–11:05a	Panel Discussion: Why Civics? Moderator: Justice Judith D. McConnell, Administrative Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District  Panelists: Judge Stacy Boulware Eurie, Presiding Judge, Juvenile Court, Superior Court of Sacramento County (pictured left) Thomas Saenz, President and CO, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) (Pictured left) Yvonne Walker, President, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1000 Allan Zaremberg, President and Chief Executive Officer, California Chamber of Commerce
11:05–11:15a	Break
11:15–12:05a	A Conversation with Justice Sandra Day O’Connor Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, United State Supreme Court (Ret.) in conversation with Hon. Deanell Reece Tacha (Ret.), Duane and Kelly Roberts Dean and Professor of Law, Pepperdine University School of Law
12:05–12:25p	Call to Action  Hon. Joseph Dunn (Ret). Chief Executive Officer, State Bar of California  Hon. Joan Buchanan California State Assembly Hon. Leland Yee California State Senate Hon. Marty Block California State Senate Hon. Mark Wyland California State Senate
12:25–12:30p	Closing Justice Judith D. McConnell