ShareThisBy JOSEPH G. LARIOSA
(© 2010 Journal Group Link International)
ACCEPTANCE SPEECH: Associate Justice Tani Gorres Cantil-Sakauye is flanked by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (right) and retiring California Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald M. George as she spoke during a press conference last month after Gov. Schwarzenegger announced her nomination as California Supreme Court Chief Justice in the Governor’s office in Sacramento, California. (jGLiPhoto courtesy of the Governor’s Office)
Aug 27, 2010
CHICAGO (jGLi) — The Commission on Judicial Appointment unanimously confirmed Wednesday (Aug. 25) Justice Tani Gorres Cantil-Sakauye as California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s nominee for chief justice of the California Supreme Court, according to Matt Connelly, deputy press secretary of the office of the California governor.
The three-member commission composed of Chief Justice Ronald George, Court of Appeals Justice Joan Dempsey Klein and Attorney General Jerry Brown confirmed Justice Cantil-Sakauye’s nomination whose name will be placed on the November ballot unopposed.If approved by voters, Cantil-Sakauye will serve a 12-year term. She would replace Chief Justice Ronald George, who is retiring Jan. 2. In a statement following her confirmation, Gov. Schwarzenegger said: “Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye is immensely qualified to be the next Chief Justice of California and I applaud the Commission on Judicial Appointments for its unanimous confirmation vote.
She is an experienced jurist, who has the respect of her peers in the court,and she possesses administrative and legal skills that make her uniquely qualified to lead California’s judicial branch. Justice Cantil-Sakauye understands that the role of a Justice is to administer the law, not to create law, and for that reason I am absolutely convinced she will be a fair and prudent Chief Justice of California.”
On the eve of her confirmation as Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court , Associate Justice Cantil-Sakauye expressed her wish to visit the Philippines, which is going to be her third. In an email to this reporter, Justice Cantil-Sakauye said she first visited the Philippines in 1980, which lasted for several weeks. She said she went to Manila and Cebu and her fondest memories were her meetings with “my beautiful and kind relatives.”
Her first visit was followed by another in 1984. When asked if she has plans of visiting the Philippines for the third time, Ms. Cantil-Sakauye, a mother of two teen-aged girls, said, “I would love to visit the Philippines again.” Although, she does not speak or understand Philippine language, she said, “I love all the Filipino food, but especially the desserts.”
At 50, Ms. Cantil-Sakauye will be the youngest Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the state of California.
If she wins voter approval on Nov. 2, 2010, “she will not have to stand for confirmation again for 12 years because the term of outgoing Chief Justice Ronald George is expiring. If he had retired with four years left on his term, she would have to stand for confirmation again in four years,” according to Philip R. Carrizosa, Office of Communications, of Judicial Council of California Administrative Office of the Courts, based in San Francisco, California. She could be in line to hold the highest position in the state judiciary for the next 20 or more years.
“YES” or “NO” Vote
Mr. Carrizosa added, the new chief justice stands for confirmation on a “yes” or “no” vote
of the electorate at the next gubernatorial election. In this case, the next election for governor is in
November 2nd. Her name will be the only one in the ballot.
A person is ineligible to be a judge of a court of record unless for 10 years immediately preceding selection, the person has been a member of the State Bar or served as a judge of a court of record in this State. To be eligible for nomination as Chief Justice of California Supreme Court, the California governor could appoint any attorney who has been a member of the State Bar for 10 years or who has served for any length of time as judge. All the courts in California are now “courts of record.” This language dates back to the time in California when “we had justices of the peace and their courts were not “courts of record.” We no longer have such courts,” Carrizosa explained.
Now, this minimum qualification is different from the procedure that must be followed to appoint someone to the Supreme Court. The procedure is the Governor nominates a candidate, that candidate is evaluated by the State Bar’s Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation and given a rating, the nominee’s name is then submitted to the state Commission on Judicial Appointments which must vote to confirm the nomination by a majority vote. If confirmed, the nominee must take the oath of office and submit the necessary documents to the Secretary of State’s office.
“TAKE YOUR DAUGHTER TO THE HEARING”
Meanwhile, Marily Mondejar, president of the Filipina Women’s Network (FWN), one of 13 speakers at Justice Tani’s confirmation hearing Wednesday, urged Filipino Americans to “take your daughter, all your children and young kids you know” to the confirmation hearing. If you are out-of-state, please forward to your friends and family living in California” this information.
Ms. Mondejar said, “just like Justice Tani was inspired as a young high school student when her mother brought her to a meeting in celebration of Gloria Megino Ochoa, the first Filipino to get elected to the Santa Barbara (California) Board of Supervisors, the confirmation meeting tomorrow will provide inspiration and a shift in the consciousness in our young Filipinos that it is absolutely normal to see Filipinos in leadership positions and positions of influence in America.
“This is a proud time for all Filipinos in the U.S. I think it is important that there is a large gathering of Filipinos at Justice Tani’s confirmation hearing at the Milton Marks Conference Center, 455 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco.
STATEWIDE BROADCAST
The actual confirmation hearing was held across the street at the California Supreme Court at 350 McAllister St. “This statewide broadcast of a confirmation hearing —the first of its kind— would broaden access for members of the public, legal community, and press,” Chief Justice George stated. The broadcast was available live on cable stations carrying the California Channel and on the California Channel website, www.calchannel.com, where it was also archived.
If elected on November 2nd, Justice Tani will become the first Filipina American Chief Justice in the history of the California Supreme Court.
”As you know, California is a bellwether state. All states including the federal courts and the world watch the decisions being made in California and ultimately other states follow. If confirmed and elected, Justice Tani’s court will certainly make an important mark in our lives,” Mondejar added.
(lariosa_jos@sbcglobal.net)