A state commission today scheduled a confirmation hearing in San Francisco next month on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s nomination of Court of Appeal Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye to serve as chief justice of the California Supreme Court.
Cantil-Sakauye, 50, of Sacramento, was nominated by Schwarzenegger on Wednesday to replace Chief Justice Ronald George, who will retire on Jan. 2.
The hearing before the state Commission on Judicial Appointments will take place at 10 a.m. on Aug. 25 in the Supreme Court courtroom at the State Building at 350 McAllister St.
The commission will be made up of George, state Attorney General Jerry Brown, and Court of Appeal Justice Joan Dempsey Klein of Los Angeles, who is the state’s senior appeals court presiding justice.
If she is confirmed by the commission, Cantil-Sakauye’s name will go on the Nov. 2 state ballot for voter approval for a 12-year term that would begin on Jan. 3.
Cantil-Sakauye was appointed to the Court of Appeal in Sacramento by Schwarzenegger in 2005 and previously served for 14 years as a trial judge.
She is a member of the state Judicial Council, the governing body of the state court system, and has been active on several council committees and task forces. As chief justice, she would chair the council.
If confirmed, Cantil-Sakauye would be the high court’s first Filipina-American justice and its second female chief justice.
Members of the public who wish to submit a written comment on the nomination or who wish to speak at the Aug. 25 hearing must contact the commission by 5 p.m. on Aug. 18.
The commission’s address is: Commission on Judicial Appointments, c/o Chief Justice, California Supreme Court, 350 McAllister St., San Francisco CA 94102. Attention: Secretary to the Commission.
