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Associate Justice, Court of Appeal, Fourth District, Division One: Shall Associate Justice JULIA C. KELETY be elected to the office for the term provided by law?

Unofficial result: Won — Julia C. Kelety (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,

Julia C. Kelety

Nonpartisan · Incumbent · Official site

Kelety has served as an associate justice in Division One of California's Fourth District Court of Appeal since 2023. She previously served for more than 19 years as a San Diego Superior Court judge.

Track record

Track record — General

General · 11 records
  • Served as an associate justice of the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division One.

    September 13, 2026

    Source: voterguide.sos.ca.gov

  • Authored Mustaqeem v. City of San Diego, reversing denial of temporary relief because city sidewalk-vending restrictions conflicted with state law.

    January 22, 2026

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Authored Dennis v. Monsanto, affirming a $28 million Roundup judgment and holding federal pesticide law did not bar the state failure-to-warn claims.

    November 24, 2025

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Authored People v. Jimenez, upholding a prosecutor's removal of a prospective juror while reversing a hit-and-run conviction for insufficient evidence.

    January 3, 2024

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Authored People v. Christianson, ordering full resentencing after stayed prior-prison-term enhancements were removed.

    November 17, 2023

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Authored People v. Jenkins, reversing a recommitment because the evidence did not show the person's mental disorder created a current danger to others.

    September 1, 2023

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Was nominated to the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division One.

    January 27, 2023

    Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov

  • Received the Benjamin Aranda Access to Justice Award for sustained work improving access to courts.

    January 1, 2016

    Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov

  • Began serving as a San Diego County Superior Court judge.

    October 3, 2003

    Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov

  • Received a U.S. Justice Department Director's Award for prosecuting fraudulent telemarketers.

    January 1, 1997

    Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov

  • Began serving as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of California.

    January 1, 1990

    Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov

Track record — Legal Competence

Legal Competence · 18 favorable
  • Authored Comite Civico del Valle v. County of Imperial, partially reversing approval of a lithium project because its environmental review used misleading project-lifespan information.

    August 11, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Authored Guild Mortgage v. CrossCountry Mortgage, reviving employee-loyalty, computer-access, interference, and unfair-competition claims.

    May 27, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Authored The Protect Our Communities Foundation v. City of San Diego, upholding utility franchises against environmental-review and tax challenges.

    May 26, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Authored Dawadi v. Adhikari, affirming that a unilateral check notation did not modify a written settlement requiring signed changes.

    May 12, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: noticeregistry.com

  • Authored State Compensation Insurance Fund v. ReadyLink Healthcare, affirming judgment for the insurer in a workers' compensation premium dispute.

    May 8, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: news.workcompacademy.com

  • Authored People v. Sanchez, holding that correction of a clerical sentencing error did not authorize broader resentencing.

    March 23, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: lawinformation.info

  • Authored City of Riverside v. RLI Insurance, allowing the city to pursue contract claims directly against its insurer as an additional insured.

    March 20, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Authored Barbanell v. Lodge, affirming a $68,800 fee award after a successful action to appoint a replacement arbitrator.

    December 17, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Authored Lagrisola v. North American Financial, affirming dismissal of claims against an unlicensed lender because the borrowers did not show economic injury.

    November 3, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Was unanimously confirmed and took office on the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division One.

    April 7, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov

  • Taught probate subjects to judges through the Judicial Council's judicial education center.

    January 27, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov

  • Served three years as presiding judge of the San Diego County Superior Court's appellate division.

    January 27, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov

  • Began overseeing a central probate department on the San Diego County Superior Court.

    January 15, 2008Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: sdcourt.ca.gov

  • Joined the San Diego County Public Law Library Board of Trustees and later served as its president.

    January 1, 2007Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov

  • Presided over probate and juvenile dependency matters on the San Diego County Superior Court.

    October 3, 2003Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov

  • Joined the Law Office of Howard Wiggins and later became a partner.

    January 1, 1997Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov

  • Worked as a litigation associate at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher.

    January 1, 1986Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov

  • Clerked for Judge Mary M. Schroeder on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

    January 1, 1985Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov

Track record — Candidate Ethics

Candidate Ethics · 2 records
  • Began serving on the California Commission on Judicial Performance.

    March 1, 2025

    Source: cjp.ca.gov

  • Authored Ramirez v. City of Indio, affirming the city manager's decision to uphold a police officer's termination.

    September 13, 2024

    Source: law.justia.com

Source: elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov