Arnold Schwarzenegger,  California,  California Supreme Court,  Election 2006,  Politics

California Supreme Court Watch: Schwarzenegger Names Carol A. Corrigan to High Court

State appeals court judge Carol Corrigan smiles in her San Francisco office Sept. 15, 2005. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger nominated Corrigan to the California Supreme Court on Friday, Dec. 9, 2005, deciding on a moderate Republican and former prosecutor to fill the post of conservative jurist Janice Rogers Brown. Corrigan, 57, an associate justice on the 1st District Court of Appeal in San Francisco, succeeds Brown, who resigned in June after the U.S. Senate confirmed her to the federal appeals court in Washington.

The ASSociated Press has Schwarzenegger names San Francisco appellate judge to high court

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger nominated San Francisco appellate judge Carol Corrigan to the California Supreme Court on Friday, deciding on a moderate Republican and former prosecutor to fill the post of conservative jurist Janice Rogers Brown.

“This is the best of the best that we have in the state,” Schwarzenegger said during a Capitol news conference called to introduce her.

Corrigan, 57, an associate justice on the 1st District Court of Appeal in San Francisco, succeeds Brown, who resigned in June after the U.S. Senate confirmed her to the federal appeals court in Washington, D.C.

Brown was the only black on the seven-member court, prompting speculation that Schwarzenegger would name another black to maintain the court’s ethnic balance. He also was said to have closely considered Vance Raye, a black Republican sitting on the 3rd District Court of Appeal in Sacramento. Corrigan is white.

Schwarzenegger said his only concern in naming a successor was finding the most qualified person and making a decision that “was best for California.” He praised Corrigan as being someone of “unimpeachable character.”


Judge Corrigan has impressive credentials:

Judicial and Professional Positions: Associate Justice, 1994 – Present (Appointed 1994; confirmed by voters, 1994). Judge, Alameda County Superior Court 1991-1994 (Appointed 1991; elected by voters. 1992). Judge, Oakland, Emeryville Piedmont Judicial District 1987-1991 (Appointed, 1987; elected by voters, 1988). Senior Deputy District Attorney, Alameda County 1985-1987; Deputy District Attorney, same county, 1975-1985.

Professional Activities: California Judicial Council, 1997-present. Judicial Council Task Force on Jury Instructions, 1997-present (Chair). Commission on Future of California’s Courts 1991-1994. Center for Judicial Education & Research, Governing Board, 1994-1997. President’s Commission on Organized Crime, 1983-1986. Special Consultant, President’s Task Force on Victims of Violent Crime, 1982. Adjunct Professor of Law: U.C. Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law, 1984-1987, 1990-1994; U.C. Hastings College of Law, 1981-1987, 1989; University of San Francisco School of Law, 1988-1990; University of Puget Sound School of Law, 1981. Faculty: California Judicial College, 1988-present; Continuing Judicial Studies Programs, 1989-present; National Institute of Trial Advocacy, 1981-present (Distinguished Faculty Award, 1997).

Community Involvement: Board of Directors: Holy Names College 1988-present (Chair, 1990-present); Saint Vincent’s Day Home, 1982-present (Chair, 1991-present); Goodwill Industries of the Greater East Bay, 1985-1989.

Education: B.A., magna cum laude, Holy Names College, 1970 (Student Body President, Founder’s Medal). J.D., Univ. of California, Hastings College of the Law, 1975 (Law Journal, Note and Comment Editor). Doctoral program, Clinical Psychology, Saint Louis University, 1970-1972.

Personal: Born: August 16, 1948, Stockton, California.

Corrigan spoke briefly, saying the cornerstone of her judicial philosophy is that “the law doesn’t belong to judges, it belongs to people.”

At the news conference Friday, she said her nomination was a tremendous honor and thanked Schwarzenegger for the consideration.

“I will do my very best to live up that expression of your confidence,” she said.

Notable opinions:

People v. Ray, 64 Cal.App.4th 868,

Vorse v. Sarasy, 53 Cal.App.4th 998,

Rivero v. Superior Court, 54 Cal.App.4th 1048

Flap handicaps an easy confirmation for Judge Corrigan.

This is a “SAFE” Republican pick for the Governor.

Stay tuned……..


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