First Asian-Filipina American to serve as the state's Chief Justice

Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye was sworn into office as Chief Justice of California on January 3, 2011. She is the first Asian-Filipina American and the second woman to serve as the state's Chief Justice. After former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger nominated her as Chief Justice on July 22, 2010, the California State Bar Judicial Nominees Evaluation Commission rated her as exceptionally well qualified for the position. At a public hearing on August 25, 2010, she was unanimously confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments, and in a general election on November 2, 2010, an overwhelming majority of voters elected her to that position. Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye chairs the Judicial Council of California, the administrative policymaking body of state courts, and the Commission on Judicial Appointments.

Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye with Incumbent Candidate for Daly City City Council Raymond Buenaventura

Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye

On Tuesday, September 20, 2011, Chief Justice Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye spoke to a large crowd gathered at the Old Courthouse in Redwood City, CA to discuss issues of Diversity in the legal community.  The event was sponsored by the San Mateo County Bar Association's Committee on Diversity.  The Chief Justice gave a warm and heartfelt speech on her background and history, including reflections on growing up as a Filipina and the cultural issues she faced.  She spoke of her history as a Deputy District Attorney the opportunities and struggles she faced as she ascended to through the judicial ranks.   She was greeted with thunderous applause and a standing ovation.  In addition, Attorney Joe Cotchett was present and received the distinguished Diversity Award from the San Mateo County Bar Association.

 

Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye has served for more than 20 years on California appellate and trial courts. In 1990, Governor George Deukmejian appointed her to the Sacramento Municipal Court and in 1997, Governor Pete Wilson elevated her to the Superior Court of Sacramento County. On the superior court, she presided over both criminal and civil assignments. In 1997, she established and presided over the first court in Sacramento dedicated solely to domestic violence issues. In addition, then-Judge Cantil-Sakauye chaired the court's criminal law committee and was a member of the presiding judge's task force on domestic violence and the Home Court committee. In 2005, Governor Schwarzenegger nominated her to the Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District.
Chief Justice Ronald M. George appointed Justice Cantil-Sakauye to the Judicial Council of California in September 2008. She has served as vice-chair of the Executive and Planning Committee, vice-chair of the Rules and Projects Committee, chair of the Advisory Committee on Financial Accountability and Efficiency for the Judicial Branch, and cochair of the Judicial Recruitment and Retention Working Group. Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye was also a member of the California Commission for Impartial Courts. She previously served as a member of the Judicial Council's Domestic Violence Practice and Procedure Task Force and chaired its Best Practices Domestic Violence subcommittee. She is president of the Anthony M. Kennedy American Inn of Court, an organization dedicated to promoting civility, ethics, and professionalism in the practice of law. Since 2007, she has been a Special Master, selected by the Supreme Court to hear disciplinary proceedings before the Commission on Judicial Performance.
Born in 1959 in Sacramento, Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye attended C. K. McClatchy High School (1977) and Sacramento City College (1978) before receiving her BA from the University of California, Davis, graduating with honors in 1980. After taking a year off to visit her ancestral homeland, the Philippines, the Chief Justice entered the UC Davis, Martin Luther King, Jr., School of Law in 1981. After receiving her JD in 1984, she worked as a deputy district attorney for the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office, where she prosecuted a variety of criminal offenses. In 1988, she served on the senior staff of Governor George Deukmejian in two capacities: as deputy legal affairs secretary and as a deputy legislative secretary.
Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye is a former board member of several nonprofit organizations and has been active in numerous professional community organizations, including membership in the California Judges Association, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, and the Sacramento Asian Bar Association.
She has received many awards, including honors from the Sacramento Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, the 2005 President's Award from the Sacramento Asian Bar Association, the 2003 Trailblazer's Awardfrom the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, the Filipina of the Year Award, and other awards from youth groups.