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Administrative Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Third District: Shall Administrative Presiding Justice LAURIE EARL be elected to the office for the term provided by law?

Unofficial result: Won — Laurie Earl (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,

Laurie Earl

Nonpartisan · Incumbent · Official site

Earl has served on California's Third District Court of Appeal since 2022 and is its administrative presiding justice. She previously served on the Sacramento County Superior Court from 2005 through 2021, including as presiding judge.

Track record

Track record — General

General · 15 records
  • Served as administrative presiding justice of the Third District Court of Appeal.

    September 13, 2026

    Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov

  • Authored In re W.A., affirming denial of a dependency modification petition while ordering further Indian Child Welfare Act inquiry.

    August 19, 2026

    Source: law.justia.com

    Also on this bill

    • May 25, 2022 · Authored In re M.E., conditionally affirming termination of parental rights while ordering further Indian Child Welfare Act inquiry and notice. (General)
  • Authored Nuanmanee v. Superior Court, ordering dismissal because court administration delayed a misdemeanor trial beyond the statutory speedy-trial deadline.

    May 19, 2026

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Authored Wright v. WellQuest Elk Grove, allowing related elder-care claims to remain in court despite an arbitration agreement signed for the deceased patient.

    March 18, 2026

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Authored In re Marriage of J.G., reversing a custody order that failed to apply the statutory domestic-violence presumption and make required findings.

    May 5, 2025

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Authored People v. Planchard, affirming a stalking conviction based on threatening public Facebook posts directed at the victim.

    February 28, 2025

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Authored Paleny v. Fireplace Products, holding egg retrieval for possible future pregnancy was not a pregnancy-related condition protected by the employment discrimination law.

    June 27, 2024

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Authored Weber v. Superior Court, holding an Elections Code restriction on dual candidacy applied only to the independent-nomination process.

    April 9, 2024

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Authored People v. Panighetti, affirming sex-offense and related convictions while adding presentence custody credit.

    September 25, 2023

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Was nominated as presiding justice of the Third District Court of Appeal.

    March 30, 2023

    Source: gov.ca.gov

  • Authored River's Side at Washington Square Homeowners Association v. Superior Court, issuing a writ allowing the association to pursue residential construction-defect claims for its members.

    March 6, 2023

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Authored In re M.E., conditionally affirming termination of parental rights while ordering further Indian Child Welfare Act inquiry and notice.

    May 25, 2022

    Source: law.justia.com

    Also on this bill

    • August 19, 2026 · Authored In re W.A., affirming denial of a dependency modification petition while ordering further Indian Child Welfare Act inquiry. (General)
  • Was appointed to the Third District Court of Appeal.

    November 1, 2021

    Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov

  • Served on the California Supreme Court Jury Selection Work Group studying safeguards against discrimination in jury selection.

    January 1, 2020

    Source: supreme.courts.ca.gov

  • Began serving as a deputy district attorney in Sacramento County.

    January 1, 1995

    Source: gov.ca.gov

Track record — Legal Competence

Legal Competence · 21 favorable
  • Authored In re Marriage of Capos, rejecting a late effort to vacate an appealable child-support arrears order.

    June 1, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Authored Physicians for Social Responsibility v. Department of Toxic Substances Control, denying private-attorney-general fees after the plaintiffs lost their environmental case on the merits.

    March 4, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Authored Angel Lynn Realty v. George, holding changed postjudgment facts could permit renewed consideration of alter-ego liability.

    September 23, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Authored Sandhu v. Board of Administration of CalPERS, affirming that a retiree working through a contractor was a common-law employee of the cities he served.

    February 14, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Authored People v. LaRoche, reducing victim restitution to the value of stolen property rather than the cost of acquiring it.

    December 5, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Authored State Water Board Cases, affirming denial of intervention in coordinated challenges to Bay-Delta water-plan amendments.

    November 17, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Was confirmed as presiding justice of the Third District Court of Appeal.

    July 10, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: newsroom.courts.ca.gov

  • Authored Parsons v. Estenson Logistics, holding weekly wages due on a weekend or holiday may be paid the next business day.

    December 28, 2022Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Authored People v. Shelly, reducing probation from five years to three and the restitution fine to the statutory minimum.

    July 14, 2022Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Authored JJD-HOV Elk Grove v. Jo-Ann Stores, enforcing the substitute-rent formula in a negotiated commercial lease.

    June 28, 2022Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: law.justia.com

  • Joined the statewide Appellate Caseflow Workgroup reviewing workflow, transparency, and timely judgments.

    June 15, 2022Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: newsroom.courts.ca.gov

  • Was unanimously confirmed to the Third District Court of Appeal.

    January 6, 2022Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov

  • Taught Criminal Law Pleading and Practice at Lincoln Law School of Sacramento.

    January 1, 2021Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov

  • Co-chaired the Trial Court Budget Advisory Committee's recommendation to fund court network security, maintenance, and technology upgrades.

    January 30, 2014Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: courts.ca.gov

  • Served on the Commission on the Future of California's Court System.

    January 1, 2014Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov

  • Led work on a statewide trial-court funding methodology and annual allocation process.

    February 19, 2013Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: courts.ca.gov

  • Became presiding judge of the Sacramento County Superior Court.

    January 1, 2012Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov

  • Chaired the Judicial Council's Trial Court Presiding Judge Advisory Committee.

    January 1, 2012Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov

  • Presided over civil, criminal, and juvenile dependency cases on the Sacramento County Superior Court.

    January 1, 2005Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov

  • Began serving as a Sacramento County Superior Court judge.

    January 1, 2005Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov

  • Served as an assistant public defender in Sacramento County.

    January 1, 1989Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: gov.ca.gov

Track record — Candidate Ethics

Candidate Ethics · 3 records
  • Instructed judges in criminal law and judicial ethics courses.

    January 1, 2021

    Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov

  • Served as a special master to the California Commission on Judicial Performance.

    January 1, 2019

    Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov

  • Became senior assistant inspector general at the California Office of Inspector General.

    January 1, 2004

    Source: gov.ca.gov

Source: elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov