California Supreme Court Watch: Judge Corrigan Rated “Well Qualified”

The ASSociated Press has Judicial vetters hang high rating on court hopeful

A judicial vetting committee of the State Bar is ranking California Supreme Court nominee Justice Carol A. Corrigan with the second-highest rating the panel offers, according to documents released yesterday.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger nominated Corrigan, a San Francisco appeals court justice, to the state’s highest court Dec. 9 to fill the vacancy on the seven-member court created when Justice Janice Rogers Brown resigned to fill a federal judicial post in the District of Columbia.

The Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation, which consists largely of attorneys in various practices, told Schwarzenegger that, after reviewing her extensive record as an Alameda County prosecutor, trial judge and appellate judge, that she was “well qualified” for the Supreme Court post. The highest ranking is “exceptionally well qualified.”

“Justice Corrigan is brilliant, decisive, articulate, courteous, compassionate, collegial and (a) scholarly bench officer with a solid grasp of varied and complex criminal and civil law issues,” wrote commission chairman Todd Irby.

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.

Her nomination will be considered Wednesday by the state Commission on Judicial Appointments, consisting of Chief Justice Ronald George, Attorney General Bill Lockyer and the state’s senior presiding appellate justice, Joan Dempsey Klein of Los Angeles. If confirmed, Corrigan would join the court for arguments the following week.

Governor Schwarzenegger has made a solid choice for the California Supreme Court. Corrigan is a moderate but NOT an activist/ideologue and sometimes that is what you want on the bench.

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

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