10.8: Summary

The Leading Role of the Judicial Branch

The role of law in the everyday lives of Californians is essential. This chapter states that much of this law is state law, organized, administered, and developed by Californians. The Supreme Court of California has exercised leadership in many areas of law. One way that law collides with politics is when we consider the degree to which the courts should be independent of the other branches or the degree to which they should be accountable. Our system seeks to find a balance between the two, enough independence not to be subservient to the other branches but enough accountability to respond to the needs of the people.

As the culture of our state has changed, so has the Court. The Court far better reflects the diversity of peoples and backgrounds than it did forty years ago. The difficulties experienced by Justice Rose Bird were due in part to the prevailing bias against women at that time. The experiences of Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye reflect a political and social environment where there is more opportunity in government for everyone.

For Further Inquiry

1. Read the biographies of the current Justices of the California Supreme Court. What stands out about them?
2. Browse the materials available at the California Supreme Court History Society. A wealth of articles in their journal provides a treasure trove of research about the history of the Court.
3. Visit the Supreme Court's archive of oral arguments and listen to the oral argument of a case for a few minutes.