Shall Associate Justice MARTHA K. GOODING be elected to the office for the term provided by law?
California
My vote power
Retention race
Election date
November 3, 2026
About this office
- 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, Gun Control, Women's Reproductive Rights,
Martha K. Gooding
Nonpartisan · Incumbent · declared · Official site
Gooding is an associate justice in Division Three of California's Fourth District Court of Appeal. She previously served on the Orange County Superior Court and spent 30 years in private legal practice.
Where Martha K. Gooding stands, based on their records
Supports
Women's Reproductive Rights (1 record)
Mixed record
Public Safety and Crime Control (3 support · 3 oppose), Civil Rights (5 support · 2 oppose)
Track record
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 3 support · 3 oppose
Joined the California Supreme Court majority in People v. Esquivias, recognizing broad equitable habeas authority to apply retroactive firearm-enhancement relief.
August 17, 2026Opposes Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored People v. Giametta-Reitkopp, affirming $300,369.15 in animal-care restitution after 150 neglected dogs were found on the defendants' property.
April 29, 2026Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: leagle.com · researched September 13, 2026
Joined Meiner v. Superior Court, suppressing bank evidence derived from a warrantless Apple Pay search that exceeded probation terms.
March 26, 2026Opposes Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored People v. Hayde, reversing denial of a military veteran's resentencing petition after the trial court used irrelevant factors and overlooked rehabilitation.
August 12, 2025Opposes Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Dissented in People v. Kelly and would have affirmed denial of felony-murder resentencing.
September 18, 2024Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Initially served on the Superior Court's Limited Criminal Panel at the Stephen K. Tamura-West Justice Center.
December 5, 2013Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Track record — Women's Reproductive Rights
Women's Reproductive Rights · 1 support
Authored Pham v. Superior Court, enforcing an IVF agreement that awarded two frozen embryos to the partner selected in the contract.
December 16, 2025Supports Women's Reproductive Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Track record — Civil Rights
Civil Rights · 5 support · 2 oppose
Joined the California Supreme Court majority in People v. Esquivias, recognizing broad equitable habeas authority to apply retroactive firearm-enhancement relief.
August 17, 2026Supports Civil Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Joined Meiner v. Superior Court, suppressing bank evidence derived from a warrantless Apple Pay search that exceeded probation terms.
March 26, 2026Supports Civil Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored People v. Hayde, reversing denial of a military veteran's resentencing petition after the trial court used irrelevant factors and overlooked rehabilitation.
August 12, 2025Supports Civil Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored M.A. v. B.F., affirming that the evidence did not establish a dating relationship for a domestic-violence tort claim; one justice dissented.
February 5, 2024Opposes Civil Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
The California Supreme Court reversed her trial ruling in Garcia-Brower v. Kolla's and held that reporting a violation to an employer who already knew about it remained protected whistleblowing.
May 22, 2023Opposes Civil Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Received the Orange County Anti-Defamation League's Marcus Kaufman Jurisprudence Award for ethics, leadership, and community service.
January 1, 2009Supports Civil Rights
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Served on the Central District of California's Pro Bono Panel.
January 1, 2000Supports Civil Rights
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Track record — General
General · 7 records
Won unanimous confirmation as a Fourth District Court of Appeal associate justice.
September 26, 2023
Source: newsroom.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Governor Gavin Newsom nominated her to the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division Three.
May 19, 2023
Source: gov.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Served on the Superior Court's Executive, Finance, Grand Jury Selection, and Judicial Mentor committees.
January 1, 2016
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Governor Jerry Brown appointed her to the Orange County Superior Court.
December 5, 2013
Source: archive.gov.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Served as president of the Orange County Federal Bar Association and the Orange County Association of Business Trial Lawyers.
January 1, 2000
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Served as a Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference lawyer representative and on the Central District of California's Magistrate Judges Merit Selection Panel.
January 1, 2000
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Held ABA Litigation Section leadership roles for more than 17 years, including service in the ABA House of Delegates and Litigation Section Council.
January 1, 1996
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Track record — Legal Competence
Legal Competence · 27 favorable · 1 unfavorable
Joined the California Supreme Court majority in People v. Esquivias, recognizing broad equitable habeas authority to apply retroactive firearm-enhancement relief.
August 17, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored People v. Giametta-Reitkopp, affirming $300,369.15 in animal-care restitution after 150 neglected dogs were found on the defendants' property.
April 29, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: leagle.com · researched September 13, 2026
Joined Meiner v. Superior Court, suppressing bank evidence derived from a warrantless Apple Pay search that exceeded probation terms.
March 26, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored Guardian Storage Centers v. Simpson, reversing denial of attorney disqualification and extending safeguards for privileged material taken without authorization.
March 24, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored Pham v. Superior Court, enforcing an IVF agreement that awarded two frozen embryos to the partner selected in the contract.
December 16, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored People v. Hayde, reversing denial of a military veteran's resentencing petition after the trial court used irrelevant factors and overlooked rehabilitation.
August 12, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored Mitchell v. Hutchinson, affirming summary judgment because the plaintiffs offered no nonspeculative evidence tying roadway rocks to the defendant's property.
June 11, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Dissented in People v. Kelly and would have affirmed denial of felony-murder resentencing.
September 18, 2024Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored Applied Medical Distribution Corp. v. Jarrells, preserving an injunction for trade-secret misappropriation while ordering reconsideration of fees and a jury trial on willfulness.
March 8, 2024Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored M.A. v. B.F., affirming that the evidence did not establish a dating relationship for a domestic-violence tort claim; one justice dissented.
February 5, 2024Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Won unanimous confirmation as a Fourth District Court of Appeal associate justice.
September 26, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: newsroom.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Received an exceptionally well qualified rating from the State Bar Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation.
September 26, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
The California Supreme Court reversed her trial ruling in Garcia-Brower v. Kolla's and held that reporting a violation to an employer who already knew about it remained protected whistleblowing.
May 22, 2023Unfavorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Moved to the Superior Court's Civil Panel at the Central Justice Center.
January 1, 2016Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Served on the Orange County Superior Court's Appellate Panel.
January 1, 2016Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Served on the Superior Court's Executive, Finance, Grand Jury Selection, and Judicial Mentor committees.
January 1, 2016Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Initially served on the Superior Court's Limited Criminal Panel at the Stephen K. Tamura-West Justice Center.
December 5, 2013Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Served as a Jones Day partner from 2011 until her judicial appointment in 2013.
January 1, 2011Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: gov.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Co-received the Patent and Trademark Office Society's Rossman Award for an article contributing to patent, trademark, and copyright law.
January 1, 2010Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Served as president of the Orange County Federal Bar Association and the Orange County Association of Business Trial Lawyers.
January 1, 2000Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Served as a Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference lawyer representative and on the Central District of California's Magistrate Judges Merit Selection Panel.
January 1, 2000Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Served on the Central District of California's Pro Bono Panel.
January 1, 2000Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Served as a partner at Howrey LLP from 2000 through 2011.
January 1, 2000Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: gov.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Held ABA Litigation Section leadership roles for more than 17 years, including service in the ABA House of Delegates and Litigation Section Council.
January 1, 1996Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Helped open Howard Rice's Southern California office after moving to Orange County in 1992.
January 1, 1992Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Became a partner at Howard Rice Nemerovski Canady Falk and Rabkin in 1989.
January 1, 1989Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: gov.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Worked as an associate at Howard Rice Nemerovski Canady Falk and Rabkin from 1983 through 1989.
January 1, 1983Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: gov.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Clerked for Judge Aubrey E. Robinson Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia after law school.
January 1, 1981Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Track record — Candidate Ethics
Candidate Ethics · 3 records
Authored Guardian Storage Centers v. Simpson, reversing denial of attorney disqualification and extending safeguards for privileged material taken without authorization.
March 24, 2026
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored Applied Medical Distribution Corp. v. Jarrells, preserving an injunction for trade-secret misappropriation while ordering reconsideration of fees and a jury trial on willfulness.
March 8, 2024
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Received the Orange County Anti-Defamation League's Marcus Kaufman Jurisprudence Award for ethics, leadership, and community service.
January 1, 2009
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Source: elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov