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:
| Committee Chair |
Hon. Judith D. McConnell, Chair
Administrative Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District
|
| Justices of the Court of Appeal involved in civic education and public information |
Hon. Halim Dhanidina (Ret.)
Justice of the Court of Appeal
Second Appellate District
|
|
Judicial officers of the superior court involved in civic education and Judge
|
Hon. Stacy Boulware Eurie
Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento
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
|
| Federal court representatives |
Hon. Consuelo María “Connie” Callahan
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 |
Sara Spero
Senior Staff Attorney
Supreme Court of California
|
|
County Superintendent of Schools/representative of the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association (CCSESA)
|
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
|
| California Lawyers Association Representative |
Jerrilyn Malana
Chief Deputy District Attorney, Human Resources
San Diego County District Attorney's Office
|
| Student Representative |
Zachary Patterson
University City High School
|
The
Civic Learning Award for California public elementary, middle, and high schools, is co-sponsored by California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye and California State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Each year, the award spotlights successful efforts to engage students in civic learning and identifies models that can be replicated in other schools. Champions of Civics were named with the 2021 Award program.
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.
