In order to be eligible to be a judge of the Superior Court in California, a candidate must have earned a J.D. from an accredited law school in California, pass the California Bar Exam, and have been practicing law for ten years immediately prior to becoming a judge. Students who attend an unaccredited California law school, out-of-state law school, or out-of-country law school can still take the bar and practice in California if they meet certain requirements. Once admitted to the California Bar, students must be practicing law in California for at least ten years prior to the judicial appointment.
California’s Superior Court
California has almost 40 million people living in 58 counties. Each county contains one Superior Court. There are over 1,700 Superior Court Judges who are either elected or appointed by the governor. Each judge serves a six-year term before running for re-election.
The Superior Courts have general jurisdiction in each county. California’s Superior Court is considered a trial court. The judges will hear and decide on civil and criminal cases. In 2017, there are 6 million cases filed in Superior Courts. Many Superior Courts have specialty departments for domestic violence or other matters. A Superior Court judge will preside over these cases just as they would in other cases.
Prior to 1998, California’s Superior Courts included municipal courts. However, voters approved a constitutional amendment to combine the Superior and Municipal Courts.
Superior Court Judges
Superior Court Judges preside over criminal and civil cases. In a normal day, a judge can preside over hearings, jury selection, small claims, traffic cases, probate, and estates, or criminal cases. The judge will weigh arguments by parties that appear before them and render a decision.
A judges day is full and runs on a tight schedule. Each judge will have someone who keeps the court’s schedule up to date and notifies the parties involved.
