Chief Justice Ronald M. George
PERSONAL BACKGROUND
Date of Birth: March 11, 1940
Family: Married; 3 children
Education: J.D., Stanford Law School, 1964
A.B., Princeton University (Woodrow Wilson School of Public and
International Affairs), 1961
JUDICIAL POSITIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS
Supreme Court of California: appointed on July 29, 1991, by
Governor Pete Wilson, confirmed by the Commission on Judicial
Appointments on September 3, 1991, oath same day; elected November
8, 1994, to full term; appointed as 27th Chief Justice of California
on March 28, 1996, confirmed by the Commission on Judicial
Appointments on May 1, 1996, oath same day; elected November 3,
1998, to full term.
Court of Appeal: appointed on July 23, 1987, by Governor George
Deukmejian, confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments on
August 27, 1987, oath same day; elected November 6, 1990, to balance
of term.
Los Angeles Superior Court: appointed on December 23, 1977, by
Governor Edmund Brown, Jr. (and elected without opposition to
six-year terms in 1978 and 1984); felony trials including the
pretrial and trial proceedings in the Hillside Strangler case
(People v. Angelo Buono) (1981-83); Supervising Judge in charge of
the Criminal Division (1983-84); civil trials and civil settlement
panel (1985-87).
Los Angeles Municipal Court: appointed April 20, 1972, by
Governor Ronald Reagan (and elected without opposition to six-year
term in 1976); Supervising Judge in charge of the Criminal Division
(1977); Supervising Judge in charge of the West Los Angeles Branch
(1974-75).
JUDICIAL ACTIVITIES AND ASSOCIATIONS
Chair, California Judicial Council (1996-present); other Judicial
Council activities: Member (1989-1991) and Member and Chair,
Executive Committee (1993-96); Chair, Advisory Committee to
Implement the Gender Fairness Proposals (1991-94); Chair,
Subcommittee on Gender Bias in the Courts (1991-94); Chair, Task
Force on Voir Dire and Judicial Council Advisory Committee on Voir
Dire (1988); Co-Chair, California State-Federal Judicial Council
(1996-present).
President, Conference of Chief Justices (2003-04)
Chair, Board of Directors, National Center for State Courts
(2003-04)
Member, Committee on Federal-State Jurisdiction of the Judicial
Conference of the U.S. (1999-2002)
Member, Anglo-American Legal Exchange, U.S. State Dept. Program
(1999-2000)
Member, Governor's Commission on Building California for the 21st
Century (1999-2002)
Member, Committee on Continuing Appellate Education of the
American Bar Association's Judicial Administration Division
(1993-1996)
President, California Judges Association (1982-83)
Los Angeles Countywide Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee
(Chairman pro tem 1984, member 1983)
Judicial Commission on Crime Victims, member, appointed by
Attorney General George Deukmejian (1980-82)
Los Angeles Superior Court Committee on Standard Jury
Instructions - Criminal (CALJIC), member (1977-1987)
Lecturer at numerous judicial education programs, law schools,
bar associations, news media seminars, law enforcement agencies,
including American Bar Association Appellate Judges Seminar Series,
California State-Federal Judicial Council Capital Case Symposium,
San Diego Law Library Justice Foundation, Criminal Justice Legal
Foundation, 2020 Vision Symposium on the Future of California's
Courts, Annual Meetings of Calif. Judges Association, Annual Meeting
of Calif. District Attorneys' Association, Los Angeles County Bar
Association, U.S.C. Legion Lex, Calif. Law Enforcement Warrant
Officers' Association, Calif. Judicial College, Calif. Continuing
Judicial Studies Program, Calif. Superior Court Criminal Law &
Procedure Institute, Calif. Institute for Trial Advocacy Skills
(Univ. So. Calif. Law Center), U.C.L.A. Law School Moot Court and
Mock Trial Programs, Constitutional Rights Foundation
Author, Justice William J. Brennan lecture on state courts and
social justice at New York University School of Law, Challenges
Facing an Independent Judiciary, 80 N.Y.U. L.Rev. 1345
(2005)
Author, 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988 California Criminal Trial
Judges' Benchbook, and 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988 Calif. Criminal
Trial Judges' Deskbook (West Publishing Co.)
Author, Benchblotter: Common Crimes and Punishments (published by
L.A. Daily Journal, 1985-1987)
Author, Determinate Sentencing Manual (published by L.A. Daily
Journal, 1987)
Co-Author, Calif. Judicial Retirement Handbook (Calif. Judges'
Association) (3rd & 4th editions)
Project Safer California, Member (appointed by Governor Ronald
Reagan), Advisory Committee on Special Problems in the Judicial
Process (1974)
Member: American Bar Association, American Judicature Society
JUDICIAL HONORS
2005 - State Bar of California's Bernard Witkin Medal
2005 - Foster Care Awareness Campaign Recognition
2004 - Public Counsel’s William O. Douglas Award
2003 - George Moscone Award for Outstanding Public Service,
Consumer Attorneys of Los Angeles
2003 - James Madison Freedom of Information Award, Society of
Professional Journalists
2002 - William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence
2000 - Foundation of the State Bar's Justice Award
2000 - Judge Learned Hand Award
1998 - American Judicature Society's Herbert Harley Award ("for
services in promoting the effective administration of justice")
1998 - Los Angeles County Barristers' Special Recognition
1997 - President's Award, State Association of Counties
1997 - St. Thomas More Medallion Award "for outstanding moral,
intellectual, and professional contributions to the law and
society," presented by the St. Thomas More Law Honor Society
1997 - "Justice of the Year," Consumer Attorneys of
California
1996 - "Person of the Year," Los Angeles Metropolitan News
1996 - Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation of the State
Bar of California, unanimously ranked "exceptionally well qualified"
(highest possible rating) for appointment as Chief Justice
1991 - "Appellate Justice of the Year" Award from the Los Angeles
Trial Lawyers Association
1983 - "Trial Judge of the Year," Los Angeles Metropolitan
News
1981 - Recipient, President's Cup of the California Judges
Association (as the judge who did the most for the California
judiciary during the year)
EXPERIENCE AS DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL IN CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT
OF JUSTICE (1965-1972)
Before the California Supreme Court representing the State of
California in 11 cases in oral arguments and preparation of briefs,
including People v. Anderson (1972) 6 Cal.3d 628 [100
Cal.Rptr. 152] (which invalidated the death penalty under the
California Constitution's cruel or unusual punishment clause), and
People v. Sirhan Sirhan (1972) 7 Cal.3d 710 [102 Cal.Rptr.
385] (involving assassination of Senator Robert Kennedy)
Before the U.S. Court of Appeals (Ninth Circuit), U.S. District
Court, and California Courts of Appeal, oral argument and briefs in
excess of 100 appeals and writs
Numerous trials and investigations
Before the United States Supreme Court, six oral arguments and
preparation of briefs:
Chimel v. California (1969) 395 U.S. 752 (scope of
search incident to arrest)
Hill v. California (1971) 401 U.S. 797 (argued twice)
(search incident to mistaken arrest)
McGautha v. California (1971) 402 U.S. 183
(constitutionality of jury punishment-determination procedures in
capital cases)
Aikens v. California (1972) 406 U.S. 813 (initially the
lead case on constitutionality of death penalty as decided in
Furman v. Georgia (1972) 408 U.S. 238, until rendered moot
by the California Supreme Court decision in People v.
Anderson (above) invalidating the death penalty)
Kirby v. Illinois (1972) 406 U.S. 682 (argued as amicus
curiae by special leave of the court) (limiting right to counsel
at police lineups)
Administrative Assistant in charge of the Los Angeles Office of
the Attorney General (supervision of 110 attorneys and 200
stenographic and clerical personnel).
<<
back