Your 2024 ballot will include judicial candidates for vacated seats. How will you decide your vote?

LWV Santa Clara County, in response to numerous questions posed by League members and the general public about how the CA Judicial System is organized and election of judges, has created a comprehensive FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) guide that unravels the mysteries of the California Judicial System.  This FAQ is a must-read.  Courtesy of LWV Santa Clara County

And check out this informative YouTube video from the Honorable Susan Finlay (Ret.), who served 37 years on the Superior Court bench in San Diego County. She will help voters understand the process and criteria for judicial candidates. Finlay is an acclaimed leader whose work on statewide and local judicial committees and task forces addressed the issues of fairness and efficiency in our courts. Currently, she serves on the San Diego County Bar Association’s Judicial Election Evaluation Committee (JEEC), evaluating judicial candidates who appear on the ballot.  Courtesy of LWV of San Diego.

Judges deal with everything from minor disputes to society's most intractable problems. Their decisions have as great an impact on our lives as decisions made by the governor and legislators. The governor may appoint judges to vacant positions, but at election time, voters determine who is qualified to remain seated. Those who vote are exercising an important opportunity to maintain the balance between judicial independence and accountability.