Charles A. Smiley
CA · Associate Justice, California Court of Appeal, First Appellate District, Division One
Smiley is an associate justice in Division One of California's First District Court of Appeal. He previously served 17 years as an Alameda County judicial officer, including as presiding judge, and worked as a public defender.
Where Charles A. Smiley stands, based on their records
Supports
Public Safety and Crime Control (9 records), Gun Control (1 record), Women's Reproductive Rights (1 record),
Campaign finance information not available
Track record
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 9 support
Authored In re L.H., affirming termination of parental rights after finding no beneficial-relationship exception.
July 23, 2026Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored O'Hanlan v. Dignity Health, upholding a hospital's revocation of clinical privileges after peer review.
July 6, 2026Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored People v. Uceda, reversing a shooting conviction for omitted lesser-offense instructions while affirming murder.
March 5, 2026Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored People v. Richards, upholding motel restitution as economic loss caused by assault and false imprisonment.
February 27, 2026Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Joined People v. McCowan, upholding California's firearm licensing scheme and assault-weapon and large-capacity-magazine convictions.
January 13, 2026Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Ordered thousands of marijuana convictions reduced or dismissed and sealed cases reduced to infractions under Proposition 64.
May 1, 2020Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: pleasantonweekly.com · researched September 13, 2026
Supervised Alameda County's collaborative, treatment, and diversion courts.
July 1, 2019Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Led Alameda County's juvenile courts as presiding judge from 2016 through 2019.
January 1, 2016Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: nationalpress.org · researched September 13, 2026
Represented indigent clients as an Alameda County deputy public defender from 1997 through 2007.
January 1, 1997Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Track record — Gun Control
Gun Control · 1 support
Joined People v. McCowan, upholding California's firearm licensing scheme and assault-weapon and large-capacity-magazine convictions.
January 13, 2026Supports Gun Control
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Track record — Women's Reproductive Rights
Women's Reproductive Rights · 1 support
Joined Doe v. Kachru, reviving a medical-battery claim involving a vacuum-assisted delivery performed over the patient's objection.
October 13, 2025Supports Women's Reproductive Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Track record — Civil Rights
Civil Rights · 6 support
Joined In re J.A.-M., reversing juvenile orders entered without adequate notice to the father.
June 30, 2026Supports Civil Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Joined Laliberte v. Kellermeyer, refusing to enforce employment arbitration agreements permeated by unconscionability.
May 11, 2026Supports Civil Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored People v. Uceda, reversing a shooting conviction for omitted lesser-offense instructions while affirming murder.
March 5, 2026Supports Civil Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Joined Doe v. Kachru, reviving a medical-battery claim involving a vacuum-assisted delivery performed over the patient's objection.
October 13, 2025Supports Civil Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Co-chaired the Judicial Council's Racial Justice, Equity, and Inclusion Subcommittee.
August 15, 2024Supports Civil Rights
Source: courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Ordered thousands of marijuana convictions reduced or dismissed and sealed cases reduced to infractions under Proposition 64.
May 1, 2020Supports Civil Rights
Source: pleasantonweekly.com · researched September 13, 2026
Track record — General
General · 10 records
Joined Simerley v. Golden Gate Bridge District, rejecting loss-of-consortium recovery under maritime law.
August 11, 2026
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Joined Linderoth v. Relola, affirming an arbitration award after rejecting fraud and public-policy challenges.
July 10, 2026
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Joined Gibbs v. Humboldt County, reviving pension-record and negligence claims by a longtime public employee.
May 13, 2026
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Joined Myres v. CalPERS, reversing pension forfeiture because off-duty insurance fraud did not arise from official duties.
December 26, 2025
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Received an Earl Warren American Inn of Court endorsement letter supporting his appellate appointment.
February 19, 2025
Source: earlwarreninn.org · researched September 13, 2026
Governor Gavin Newsom nominated him to the First District Court of Appeal, Division One.
November 21, 2024
Source: gov.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Served as presiding judge of the Alameda County Superior Court during 2022 and 2023.
January 1, 2022
Source: uclawsf.edu · researched September 13, 2026
Served as assistant presiding judge of the Alameda County Superior Court.
January 1, 2020
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Served on the statewide Commission on the Future of California's Court System.
January 1, 2014
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Governor Jerry Brown appointed him to the Alameda County Superior Court.
February 1, 2012
Source: archive.gov.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Track record — Impartiality
Impartiality · 2 favorable
Co-chaired the Judicial Council's Racial Justice, Equity, and Inclusion Subcommittee.
August 15, 2024Favorable on Impartiality
Source: courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Joined California's judicial-officer training faculty for bias and ethics.
January 1, 2016Favorable on Impartiality
Source: nationalpress.org · researched September 13, 2026
Track record — Legal Competence
Legal Competence · 22 favorable
Joined Simerley v. Golden Gate Bridge District, rejecting loss-of-consortium recovery under maritime law.
August 11, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored In re L.H., affirming termination of parental rights after finding no beneficial-relationship exception.
July 23, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Joined Linderoth v. Relola, affirming an arbitration award after rejecting fraud and public-policy challenges.
July 10, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored O'Hanlan v. Dignity Health, upholding a hospital's revocation of clinical privileges after peer review.
July 6, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Joined In re J.A.-M., reversing juvenile orders entered without adequate notice to the father.
June 30, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Joined Gibbs v. Humboldt County, reviving pension-record and negligence claims by a longtime public employee.
May 13, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Joined Laliberte v. Kellermeyer, refusing to enforce employment arbitration agreements permeated by unconscionability.
May 11, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored People v. Uceda, reversing a shooting conviction for omitted lesser-offense instructions while affirming murder.
March 5, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored People v. Richards, upholding motel restitution as economic loss caused by assault and false imprisonment.
February 27, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Joined People v. McCowan, upholding California's firearm licensing scheme and assault-weapon and large-capacity-magazine convictions.
January 13, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Joined Myres v. CalPERS, reversing pension forfeiture because off-duty insurance fraud did not arise from official duties.
December 26, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Joined Doe v. Kachru, reviving a medical-battery claim involving a vacuum-assisted delivery performed over the patient's objection.
October 13, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Joined Wing Inflatables v. Lloyd's, preserving an appeal because electronic service lacked a self-contained certificate date.
July 21, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Won unanimous confirmation as an associate justice of the First District Court of Appeal, Division One.
February 14, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: newsroom.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Supervised Alameda County's collaborative, treatment, and diversion courts.
July 1, 2019Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Led Alameda County's juvenile courts as presiding judge from 2016 through 2019.
January 1, 2016Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: nationalpress.org · researched September 13, 2026
Joined California's judicial-officer training faculty for bias and ethics.
January 1, 2016Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: nationalpress.org · researched September 13, 2026
Served on the statewide Commission on the Future of California's Court System.
January 1, 2014Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Presided over family, restraining-order, traffic, and small-claims matters as a court commissioner.
January 1, 2007Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: nationalpress.org · researched September 13, 2026
Alameda County judges selected him as a Superior Court commissioner.
January 1, 2007Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: nationalpress.org · researched September 13, 2026
Handled appeals and supervised a branch office in the Alameda County Public Defender's Office.
January 1, 2000Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Represented indigent clients as an Alameda County deputy public defender from 1997 through 2007.
January 1, 1997Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Retention question · November 3, 2026
Profile last researched September 12, 2026.