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Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Second District, Division Four: Shall Presiding Justice HELEN ZUKIN be elected to the office for the term provided by law?

Unofficial result: Won — Helen Zukin (Nonpartisan)

Source: electionresults.sos.ca.gov

California
Retention race

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,

Helen Zukin

Nonpartisan · Incumbent · Official site

Zukin is the presiding justice of Division Four in California's Second District Court of Appeal. She previously served on the Los Angeles Superior Court and practiced complex civil litigation.

Track record

Track record — General

General · 6 records
  • Was unanimously confirmed as presiding justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Four.

    June 24, 2025

    Source: courts.ca.gov

  • Was nominated as presiding justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Four.

    May 7, 2025

    Source: gov.ca.gov

  • Began serving as an associate justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Four.

    July 1, 2023

    Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov

  • Was nominated as an associate justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Four.

    May 19, 2023

    Source: gov.ca.gov

  • Served as the West District site judge for the Beverly Hills Courthouse.

    January 1, 2019

    Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov

  • Was appointed a judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

    June 1, 2018

    Source: archive.gov.ca.gov

Track record — Impartiality

Impartiality · 1 favorable
  • Authored A Company Hungary v. Bespalov, holding counsel in contempt and imposing sanctions for unsupported accusations of judicial bias.

    August 4, 2026Favorable on Impartiality

    Source: law.justia.com

Track record — Legal Competence

Legal Competence · 27 favorable
  • Authored A Company Hungary v. Bespalov, holding counsel in contempt and imposing sanctions for unsupported accusations of judicial bias.

    August 4, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Joined People v. Sacco, upholding denial of mental-health diversion for alleged financial crimes.

    July 8, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Joined Conservatorship of B.K., upholding a jury-trial waiver and the renewal of a mental-health conservatorship.

    January 28, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Authored Lampkin v. County of Los Angeles, reversing fees for a whistleblower plaintiff who obtained no relief.

    July 8, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Joined Getzels v. State Bar, upholding a rule barring inactive lawyers from private arbitration or mediation.

    June 26, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Was unanimously confirmed as presiding justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Four.

    June 24, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: courts.ca.gov

  • Was nominated as presiding justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Four.

    May 7, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: gov.ca.gov

  • Authored Estate of Tarlow, holding a named trustee had standing to seek distribution and remanding contested merits issues.

    February 27, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Joined Optronic Technologies v. Celestron Acquisition, reviving a fraudulent-transfer claim while rejecting a tortious-interference claim.

    February 10, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Joined County of Los Angeles v. Superior Court, partly granting a writ concerning statutory duties in a child-removal case.

    December 5, 2024Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Joined The Comedy Store v. Moss Adams, refusing to enforce an out-of-state forum clause that threatened California's jury-trial right.

    November 14, 2024Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Joined In re N.J., reversing termination of parental rights after failures involving relative-placement and tribal inquiries.

    August 12, 2024Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Authored G.G. v. G.S., reversing denial of a domestic-violence restraining-order renewal under an unduly narrow standard.

    May 28, 2024Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Joined Colyear v. Rolling Hills Community Association, reversing overbroad injunctive relief and a fiduciary-duty ruling.

    March 1, 2024Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Joined Parris J. v. Christopher U., affirming a domestic-violence restraining order and a $200,000 attorney-fee award.

    October 4, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Began serving as an associate justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Four.

    July 1, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov

  • Authored Diaz v. Zuniga, holding a trust amendment invalid because it did not follow the method required by the trust.

    May 19, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Was nominated as an associate justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Four.

    May 19, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: gov.ca.gov

  • Helped establish the Los Angeles Superior Court Judicial Mentor Program.

    November 17, 2021Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: lacourt.org

  • Served as the West District site judge for the Beverly Hills Courthouse.

    January 1, 2019Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov

  • Was appointed a judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

    June 1, 2018Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: archive.gov.ca.gov

  • Chaired the Los Angeles County Bar Association Litigation Section Executive Committee.

    January 1, 2017Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov

  • Became a partner at Kiesel Law.

    January 1, 2010Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: archive.gov.ca.gov

  • Joined Kiesel Law as of counsel in its plaintiffs' complex civil practice.

    January 1, 2006Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: archive.gov.ca.gov

  • Opened a solo law practice focused on civil litigation.

    January 1, 1995Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: gov.ca.gov

  • Became a partner at Simke, Chodos, Silberfeld & Anteau.

    January 1, 1990Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: gov.ca.gov

  • Practiced law as an associate at Greene, O'Reilly, Agnew & Broillet.

    January 1, 1985Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: gov.ca.gov

Track record — Candidate Ethics

Candidate Ethics · 3 records
  • Authored A Company Hungary v. Bespalov, holding counsel in contempt and imposing sanctions for unsupported accusations of judicial bias.

    August 4, 2026

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Joined Getzels v. State Bar, upholding a rule barring inactive lawyers from private arbitration or mediation.

    June 26, 2025

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Helped establish the Los Angeles Superior Court Judicial Mentor Program.

    November 17, 2021

    Source: lacourt.org

Source: elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov