Kelli M. Evans

Served as an associate justice of the California Supreme Court.

September 13, 2026

Source: supreme.courts.ca.gov

Appeared on the November 2026 ballot for retention as a California Supreme Court associate justice.

September 13, 2026

Source: elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov

Served on the California Commission on Access to Justice.

September 13, 2026

Source: supreme.courts.ca.gov

Authored People v. Lopez, rejecting a categorical procedural bar to murder resentencing claims based on imputed-malice instructions not challenged on direct appeal.

April 30, 2026

Source: law.justia.com

Authored People v. Superior Court (Guevara), requiring a Three Strikes public-safety determination during qualifying Senate Bill 483 resentencing.

October 9, 2025

Source: law.justia.com

Authored People v. Choyce, affirming three murder convictions and death judgments while correcting firearm-enhancement terms.

July 21, 2025

Source: law.justia.com

Authored People v. Emanuel, finding insufficient evidence of reckless indifference and ordering felony-murder resentencing and vacatur of the murder conviction.

June 2, 2025

Source: law.justia.com

Authored People v. Collins, reversing a second-degree murder conviction and defining the knowledge required for implied-malice liability based on failure to protect a child.

January 6, 2025

Source: law.justia.com

Authored Bailey v. San Francisco District Attorney's Office, holding that a single severe racial epithet and obstruction of a harassment complaint can support workplace claims.

July 29, 2024

Source: law.justia.com

Authored People v. Lamb, reversing gang convictions and findings under Assembly Bill 333 and vacating the death judgment while otherwise affirming.

July 11, 2024

Source: law.justia.com

Authored Pico Neighborhood Association v. City of Santa Monica, requiring a totality-of-circumstances inquiry in California Voting Rights Act vote-dilution cases.

August 24, 2023

Source: law.justia.com

Was sworn in as an associate justice of the California Supreme Court.

January 2, 2023

Source: newsroom.courts.ca.gov

Was unanimously confirmed as an associate justice of the California Supreme Court by the Commission on Judicial Appointments.

November 10, 2022

Source: newsroom.courts.ca.gov

Was selected by Governor Gavin Newsom for the California Supreme Court vacancy created by Justice Patricia Guerrero's elevation.

August 10, 2022

Source: gov.ca.gov

Received a public endorsement of her Supreme Court selection from UC Davis School of Law Dean Kevin Johnson.

August 10, 2022

Source: gov.ca.gov

Was appointed to the Alameda County Superior Court.

January 1, 2021

Source: supreme.courts.ca.gov

Managed criminal-diversion calendars as an Alameda County Superior Court judge.

January 1, 2021

Source: horvitzlevy.com

Worked on criminal-justice, public-safety, and civil-rights law and policy for the California attorney general.

January 1, 2017

Source: supreme.courts.ca.gov

Became special assistant to the California attorney general.

January 1, 2017

Source: gov.ca.gov

Served as associate director of the ACLU of Northern California.

January 1, 2010

Source: gov.ca.gov

Became a partner at Independent Assessment and Monitoring LLP.

January 1, 2006

Source: gov.ca.gov

Served on a federal court-appointed monitoring team for the Cleveland Police Department.

January 1, 2006

Source: supreme.courts.ca.gov

Served on a federal court-appointed monitoring team overseeing Oakland Police Department reforms.

January 1, 2006

Source: horvitzlevy.com

Served as a senior trial attorney in the U.S. Justice Department's Civil Rights Division.

January 1, 1998

Source: supreme.courts.ca.gov

Worked as an attorney for the ACLU of Northern California.

January 1, 1995

Source: gov.ca.gov

Served as an assistant public defender in Sacramento County.

January 1, 1995

Source: supreme.courts.ca.gov

Authored Ruelas v. County of Alameda, holding that unpaid pretrial detainees working for a private jail contractor lacked state minimum-wage and overtime claims.

April 22, 2024Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: law.justia.com

Authored California Medical Association v. Aetna, holding that mission-related resource diversion can give an organization standing under the unfair competition law.

July 17, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: law.justia.com

Received a well-qualified rating from the Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation for the California Supreme Court.

October 21, 2022Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: horvitzlevy.com

Handled small-claims and civil-harassment matters on the Alameda County Superior Court.

January 1, 2021Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: horvitzlevy.com

Served as chief deputy legal affairs secretary in Governor Gavin Newsom's office.

January 1, 2019Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: supreme.courts.ca.gov

Advised the governor and executive agencies on legal, policy, and legislative issues.

January 1, 2019Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: supreme.courts.ca.gov

Served as senior director for administration of justice at the State Bar of California.

January 1, 2014Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: gov.ca.gov

Worked as an associate at Relman and Associates.

January 1, 2001Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: gov.ca.gov

Authored In re Spielbauer, ordering restitution to a nonclient harmed by attorney misconduct while adopting the recommended suspension and probation.

July 16, 2026

Source: law.justia.com