Associate Justice, Court of Appeal, First District, Division Five: Shall Associate Justice GORDON BURNS be elected to the office for the term provided by law?
Source: electionresults.sos.ca.gov
What does this office do?
- Deciding what state laws and the state constitution mean
- Setting rulings that lower state courts must follow
- Deciding major criminal and civil cases
Affects: Public Safety and Crime Control, Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties, Gun Control,
Gordon Burns
Nonpartisan · Incumbent · Official site
Burns is an associate justice in Division Five of California's First District Court of Appeal. He previously served at the California Department of Justice and as undersecretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency.
Track record
Track record — General
General · 3 records
Began serving as an associate justice of the First District Court of Appeal, Division Five.
December 1, 2018
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Was appointed an associate justice of the First District Court of Appeal, Division Five.
November 27, 2018
Source: archive.gov.ca.gov
Was appointed undersecretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency.
December 1, 2011
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Track record — Legal Competence
Legal Competence · 27 favorable
Joined C.F. v. Alternative Family Services, upholding a negligence verdict for a foster agency after children were abused in an approved home.
June 4, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Joined Bartholomew v. Parking Concepts, reviving privacy-law claims involving automated license-plate readers.
February 5, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Authored Dobarro v. Kim, affirming dismissal of untimely appeals and warning counsel to address contrary authority.
December 17, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Joined Caru Society v. Anthony, reversing a compelled humane-surrender provision while otherwise upholding limits on dog possession.
July 24, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Authored In re L.W., reversing juvenile dependency jurisdiction unsupported by evidence of parental danger.
February 27, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Joined Doe v. California Department of Motor Vehicles, reversing restrictions on disclosure of alcohol-related license suspensions.
June 21, 2024Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Authored County of Alameda v. Alameda County Taxpayers' Association, upholding the county's voter-approved sales tax.
May 1, 2024Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Joined People v. Berlin, reversing restitution imposed after the statutory mental-health-diversion period ended.
April 26, 2024Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Authored In re A.B., requiring a juvenile court to seal records omitted from an earlier sealing petition.
August 3, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Joined People v. Jones, requiring reconsideration of a murder resentencing petition with attention to the defendant's youth.
December 23, 2022Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Authored State Department of State Hospitals v. Superior Court, ordering dismissal of abuse-related claims under governmental immunity.
November 2, 2022Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Joined Doe v. Damron, allowing California jurisdiction over a nonresident accused of committing spousal abuse in the state.
October 20, 2021Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Joined Gordon v. Atria Management, reversing denial of arbitration and remanding questions about a power of attorney.
October 1, 2021Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Joined J.J. v. Superior Court, barring extended juvenile confinement after the statutory competency-remediation period.
June 8, 2021Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Authored In re McDowell, upholding robbery-murder special-circumstance findings against a habeas challenge.
October 15, 2020Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Joined Facebook v. Superior Court, requiring fuller consideration before compelling social-media providers to disclose private communications.
February 13, 2020Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Joined People v. Carranza, upholding an attempted-murder conviction while allowing a youth-parole record.
September 30, 2019Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Joined Daley v. Regents of the University of California, reviving medical-battery and emotional-distress claims under the discovery rule.
August 30, 2019Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Joined Western Heritage Insurance v. Frances Todd, rejecting an insurer's subrogation claim against commercial tenants.
March 4, 2019Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Began serving as an associate justice of the First District Court of Appeal, Division Five.
December 1, 2018Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Was appointed an associate justice of the First District Court of Appeal, Division Five.
November 27, 2018Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: archive.gov.ca.gov
Was appointed undersecretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency.
December 1, 2011Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Joined Resources Law Group as an attorney.
January 1, 2010Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: archive.gov.ca.gov
Became California's first deputy solicitor general for civil law.
January 1, 2006Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Joined the California Department of Justice Land Law Section and worked on natural-resources litigation.
January 1, 1999Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Became a deputy attorney general in the California Department of Justice Tort and Condemnation Section.
January 1, 1997Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Worked as an associate at Downey Brand Seymour and Rohwer.
January 1, 1994Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: archive.gov.ca.gov
Track record — Candidate Ethics
Candidate Ethics · 1 record
Authored Dobarro v. Kim, affirming dismissal of untimely appeals and warning counsel to address contrary authority.
December 17, 2025
Source: law.justia.com
Source: elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov