California Court |
Duration of Term |
| Supreme Court Court of Appeals Superior Court |
12 years 12 years 6 years |
California Court |
Method of Retention |
| Supreme Court Court of Appeals Superior Court |
Retention election Retention election Reelection |
California Court |
Time Frame for Election/ Appointment |
| Supreme Court | 10 years’ practice of law in state or service as a judge of court of record |
| Court of Appeals | 10 years’ practice of law in state or service as a judge of court of record |
| Superior Court | 10 years’ practice of law in state or service as a judge of court of record |
Selection and retention methods and term lengths are prescribed by Article VI of the California Constitution.
Judicial Positions
Judge: An official of the judicial branch of government with authority to decide lawsuits brought before the court. Elected or appointed by the Governor.
Commissioner: A person elected by the judges of the court and given the power to hear and make decisions in certain kinds of legal matters.
Referee: A person appointed by the Court who can make decisions on limited legal matters such as juvenile or traffic offenses.
Judge Pro Tem: A person or judge appointed by the Presiding Judge of a particular county to sit temporarily on a given court usually in the regular judge’s absence.
Temporary Judge: A member of the State Bar appointed by the court and stipulated to by the parties to hear cases and make decisions in certain kinds of legal matters.
