Laurie Earl
CA · Administrative Presiding Justice, California Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District
Earl has served on California's Third District Court of Appeal since 2022 and is its administrative presiding justice. She previously served on the Sacramento County Superior Court from 2005 through 2021, including as presiding judge.
Where Laurie Earl stands, based on their records
Supports
Public Safety and Crime Control (4 records), Election Integrity (1 record)
Opposes
Women's Reproductive Rights (1 record)
Mixed record
Civil Rights (7 support · 1 oppose)
Campaign finance information not available
Track record
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 4 support
Authored In re Marriage of J.G., reversing a custody order that failed to apply the statutory domestic-violence presumption and make required findings.
May 5, 2025Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored People v. Planchard, affirming a stalking conviction based on threatening public Facebook posts directed at the victim.
February 28, 2025Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored People v. Panighetti, affirming sex-offense and related convictions while adding presentence custody credit.
September 25, 2023Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Began serving as a deputy district attorney in Sacramento County.
January 1, 1995Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: gov.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Track record — Women's Reproductive Rights
Women's Reproductive Rights · 1 oppose
Authored Paleny v. Fireplace Products, holding egg retrieval for possible future pregnancy was not a pregnancy-related condition protected by the employment discrimination law.
June 27, 2024Opposes Women's Reproductive Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Track record — Election Integrity
Election Integrity · 1 support
Authored Weber v. Superior Court, holding an Elections Code restriction on dual candidacy applied only to the independent-nomination process.
April 9, 2024Supports Election Integrity
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Track record — Civil Rights
Civil Rights · 7 support · 1 oppose
Authored In re W.A., affirming denial of a dependency modification petition while ordering further Indian Child Welfare Act inquiry.
August 19, 2026Supports Civil Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored Nuanmanee v. Superior Court, ordering dismissal because court administration delayed a misdemeanor trial beyond the statutory speedy-trial deadline.
May 19, 2026Supports Civil Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored Wright v. WellQuest Elk Grove, allowing related elder-care claims to remain in court despite an arbitration agreement signed for the deceased patient.
March 18, 2026Supports Civil Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored In re Marriage of J.G., reversing a custody order that failed to apply the statutory domestic-violence presumption and make required findings.
May 5, 2025Supports Civil Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored People v. Planchard, affirming a stalking conviction based on threatening public Facebook posts directed at the victim.
February 28, 2025Opposes Civil Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored River's Side at Washington Square Homeowners Association v. Superior Court, issuing a writ allowing the association to pursue residential construction-defect claims for its members.
March 6, 2023Supports Civil Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored In re M.E., conditionally affirming termination of parental rights while ordering further Indian Child Welfare Act inquiry and notice.
May 25, 2022Supports Civil Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Served on the California Supreme Court Jury Selection Work Group studying safeguards against discrimination in jury selection.
January 1, 2020Supports Civil Rights
Source: supreme.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Track record — General
General · 3 records
Served as administrative presiding justice of the Third District Court of Appeal.
September 13, 2026
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Was nominated as presiding justice of the Third District Court of Appeal.
March 30, 2023
Source: gov.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Was appointed to the Third District Court of Appeal.
November 1, 2021
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Track record — Legal Competence
Legal Competence · 21 favorable
Authored In re Marriage of Capos, rejecting a late effort to vacate an appealable child-support arrears order.
June 1, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored Physicians for Social Responsibility v. Department of Toxic Substances Control, denying private-attorney-general fees after the plaintiffs lost their environmental case on the merits.
March 4, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored Angel Lynn Realty v. George, holding changed postjudgment facts could permit renewed consideration of alter-ego liability.
September 23, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored Sandhu v. Board of Administration of CalPERS, affirming that a retiree working through a contractor was a common-law employee of the cities he served.
February 14, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored People v. LaRoche, reducing victim restitution to the value of stolen property rather than the cost of acquiring it.
December 5, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored State Water Board Cases, affirming denial of intervention in coordinated challenges to Bay-Delta water-plan amendments.
November 17, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Was confirmed as presiding justice of the Third District Court of Appeal.
July 10, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: newsroom.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Authored Parsons v. Estenson Logistics, holding weekly wages due on a weekend or holiday may be paid the next business day.
December 28, 2022Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored People v. Shelly, reducing probation from five years to three and the restitution fine to the statutory minimum.
July 14, 2022Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored JJD-HOV Elk Grove v. Jo-Ann Stores, enforcing the substitute-rent formula in a negotiated commercial lease.
June 28, 2022Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Joined the statewide Appellate Caseflow Workgroup reviewing workflow, transparency, and timely judgments.
June 15, 2022Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: newsroom.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Was unanimously confirmed to the Third District Court of Appeal.
January 6, 2022Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Taught Criminal Law Pleading and Practice at Lincoln Law School of Sacramento.
January 1, 2021Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Co-chaired the Trial Court Budget Advisory Committee's recommendation to fund court network security, maintenance, and technology upgrades.
January 30, 2014Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Served on the Commission on the Future of California's Court System.
January 1, 2014Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Led work on a statewide trial-court funding methodology and annual allocation process.
February 19, 2013Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Became presiding judge of the Sacramento County Superior Court.
January 1, 2012Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Chaired the Judicial Council's Trial Court Presiding Judge Advisory Committee.
January 1, 2012Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Presided over civil, criminal, and juvenile dependency cases on the Sacramento County Superior Court.
January 1, 2005Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Began serving as a Sacramento County Superior Court judge.
January 1, 2005Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Served as an assistant public defender in Sacramento County.
January 1, 1989Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: gov.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Track record — Candidate Ethics
Candidate Ethics · 3 records
Instructed judges in criminal law and judicial ethics courses.
January 1, 2021
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Served as a special master to the California Commission on Judicial Performance.
January 1, 2019
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Became senior assistant inspector general at the California Office of Inspector General.
January 1, 2004
Source: gov.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Retention question · November 3, 2026
Profile last researched September 12, 2026.