Supreme Court of California

Of Current Interest

Supreme Court Oral Argument Calendar for January 12, 2022 (Dec 30, 2021)
The Supreme Court of California has posted the calendar for the hearing at its courtroom in the Ronald M. George State Office Complex, Earl Warren Building, 350 McAllister Street, Fourth Floor, San Francisco, California, on January 12, 2022. Due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic and related public health directives from state and local authorities, the procedures specified by Administrative Orders Nos. 2020-03-13 (Mar. 16, 2020), 2020-03-27 (March 27, 2020), and 2020-08-19 (August 19, 2020) apply.  Counsel will appear remotely and courtroom seating for the press will be strictly limited to achieve appropriate distancing. The public will continue to have access to argument via live-streaming on the judicial branch website:  https://www.courts.ca.gov/. Case briefs

Amendment to California Supreme Court E-Filing Rules (Dec 21, 2021)
The Supreme Court of California has amended Rule 8 of its e-filing rules to be consistent with recently amended Rules 8.70 and 8.75 of the California Rules of Court, which govern the requirements for signatures on documents electronically filed with the court. The court also amended Rule 10 of the e-filing rules to require that electronically filed documents in cases in which a death judgment was entered include a notation of that fact on the cover page of the document.  Both amendments take effect on January 1, 2022.

Supreme Court Names New Director of Criminal Central Staff (Nov 1, 2021)
The California Supreme Court named Jessica Barber as the new director of its 23-member Criminal Central Staff, effective January 3, 2022. Barber replaces Norm Vance, who will retire after 29 years as director. Barber will be the first Latina attorney to serve as a head of staff for the California Supreme Court.

Court Files Two Administrative Orders Relating to State Bar (Oct 20, 2021)
Order 2021-10-20-01 relates to a Petition to Amend California Rules of Court Rule 9.42 (S269663), and Order 2021-10-20-02 relates to the February 2022 California Bar Exam.

Year in Review: California Supreme Court (Sept 30, 2021)
Highlights and key statistics from the 2020–2021 court year.

Justice Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar Named Carnegie Endowment President 
(Sept 16, 2021)
California Supreme Court Justice Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar will serve as the new president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. His last day on the bench will be Oct. 31.

Court Names New CLA Representative for Blue Ribbon Bar Exam Commission (Aug 27, 2021)
The Supreme Court of California named Jeremy Evans to represent the California Lawyers Association (CLA) on the Blue Ribbon Bar Exam Commission. Evans, who is founder and managing attorney at California Sports Lawyer, was recently elected president of CLA. The second meeting of the Blue Ribbon Bar Exam Commission is scheduled for Sept. 1. Evans replaces Ona Dosunmu, former chief executive officer and executive director of CLA.

Court Names Chair, Vice-Chair of State Bar Board of Trustees (Aug 20, 2021)
The Supreme Court of California on Friday announced appointments to the State Bar Board of Trustees and the Committee of Bar Examiners.

2022 Oral Argument Calendar (August 3, 2021)
The Supreme Court of California has published its Oral Argument Calendar for next year. The calendar highlights the weeks currently reserved for oral argument and the dates for the court’s weekly conferences and court holidays. Please note all oral argument sessions will continue to be remote until further order from the court.

Public Access to Clemency Records (May 26, 2021)
Following a review of public comments received on a proposed order concerning the confidentiality of clemency records submitted to the court by the Governor’s Office, the court today approved an administrative order outlining revised procedures for public access to these records. Under the state Constitution, the court has the responsibility to issue or withhold recommendations regarding clemency for persons twice convicted of felonies.

In Memoriam: Hon. Cruz Reynoso (May 2, 1931 – May 7, 2021) (May 25, 2021)
The Supreme Court of California will convene a special program as part of its June 2, 2021 Virtual Oral Argument session to honor Associate Justice Cruz Reynoso (February 1982 – January 1987). The program will commence immediately following oral arguments (at approximately at 11:15 a.m.) and will feature remarks from the bench and four guest speakers: former Justice Joseph R. Grodin; Dean Kevin R. Johnson, U.C. Davis School of Law; Mr. Luis Céspedes, Governor Newsom’s Judicial Appointments Secretary; and Attorney Len ReidReynoso.

Archive

Case Information

The California Appellate Courts Case Information System provides case information for California Supreme Court and Court of Appeal cases. Case information is updated once an hour throughout the business day.

Additional case related information:

Representation of Death Penalty Inmates

The California Supreme Court is seeking qualified lawyers to represent indigent persons who have been sentenced to death in their direct appeal to the Supreme Court.  For information regarding applying for an appointment, appointed counsel’s duties, and payment of counsel’s fees and expenses, please use the following link: Representing Death Penalty Inmates.

Calendars/Briefs

View the Supreme Court oral argument calendar and the briefs for the cases being argued.

Supreme Court oral argument calendar for January 12, 2022
Supreme Court oral argument briefs for January 12, 2022

 

• 2022 Oral Argument Calendar Dates
• 2021 Oral Argument Calendar Dates
• Pending and Recent Calendars

Practices & Procedures

• The Supreme Court of California booklet (Seventh Edition; updated Jan 2016) contains Internal Operating Practices and Procedures; provides overview of court's work, membership, and history.
• Petitioning for Review in the Supreme Court