State Supreme Court Justice Carlos Moreno to step down

San Jose Mercury News ^ | 6 January 2011 | Howard Mintz

[CounterCounterCulture]

Just days after his inauguration, new Gov. Jerry Brown has a quick opportunity to dust off his once controversial judge-picking skills and name a justice to one of the most influential state Supreme Courts in the country.

California Supreme Court Justice Carlos Moreno, the sole Democrat and Latino on the state's high court, submitted his letter of resignation to Brown this week, informing the governor he would retire from the court on Feb. 28. Moreno's resignation is expected to place pressure on the governor to either replace him with another Latino, or choose an African-American justice on a court without a black justice for the past seven years.

In an interview with the Mercury News on Thursday, the soft-spoken Moreno said the "time seemed right" to move on, citing Brown's election, reaching full judicial pension eligibility and being young enough to still explore lucrative options in the private sector.

(CLIP)

Two years ago, he was the only justice on the court who voted to invalidate Proposition 8, the state's voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage.

[CounterCounterCulture]

Damage done... full pension set in... time to move on...

[americanophile]

"Moreno's resignation is expected to place pressure on the governor to either replace him with another Latino, or choose an African-American justice on a court without a black justice for the past seven years."

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

...keep dreaming.

[hoosierham]

lucrative options....payoffs

[oldbrowser]

citing Brown's election, reaching full judicial pension eligibility and being young enough to still explore lucrative options in the private sector.

Full pension and maybe a little payback for being a biased judge by being appointed to some lucrative position in a "progressive" non profit group.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

A hermaphroditic hispano-negro mix,whose spiritual journey has taken her/him/it from the oppressors Christian religion, to and through Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Taoism, Shinto, Gaea, Buddhism, Witchcraft, Santeria to her/his/its current practice of Voodoo. To show her/his/its spiritual power and judicial acumen she/he/it has taken to wear an ebony mask with only one red feather covering the left ear.

[Kenny Bunk]

I agree with your pick and hope that Governor Brown (boy, do I feel foolish writing that phrase) does not make the fatal mistake of appointing a qualified Caucasian to this sensitive post.

This could wreak havoc with the California judicial system.

[w1andsodidwe]

When did it become OK to use racism as a criteria for picking judges? Nevermind, I can’t believe the RATS can get away with being so blatant about it.

[BillyBoy]

>> California Supreme Court Justice Carlos Moreno, the sole Democrat... on the state's high court <<

The California Supreme Court is full of wacky liberal activists, and this guy is the SOLE Democrat? I'd hate to see what kind of "Republican" appointees are on there.

[ElkGroveDan]

The California Supreme Court is full of wacky liberal activists,

Why do you say that? The CSSC definably has some left-leaning decisions, but I wouldn't call them "whacky." Are you maybe confusing it with the FEDERAL Ninth Circuit Court based in San Francisco?

[Defiant]

Is Rose Bird still alive?

[SeaHawkFan]

...or choose an African-American justice on a court without a black justice for the past seven years.

The last black CA SC justice was a great justice. Doubt Gov. Moonbeam wil pick one like her again.

[BillyBoy]

Don't these guy keep striking down Prop's passed by the citizens against activist liberal government policies? I could have sworn it was the California Supreme Court and not the federal courts ruling that Prop. 22 and Prop. 187 are "unconstitutional"

Seems to me that a 6-1 "Republican" controlled court is to the left of the average California voter. Scary stuff.

[vette6387]

I am not certain about 22, but 187 was sidelined by Marianna Pfaelzer (sp?) a Fed loon in LA. I would not dignify her action by calling her a judge.

[TheBattman]

Moreno's resignation is expected to place pressure on the governor to either replace him with another Latino, or choose an African-American justice on a court without a black justice for the past seven years.

What ever happened to appointing the most qualified person to the job? Why are even courts subjugated to the PC-police of quotas and ratios?

I vote that if a Latino or Black (oops... I mean divided loyalty "African-American") is appointed, he (or she) officially be labeled "Token Justice"...

[Carry_Okie]

Within a week after Schwarzenegger left office.

Good thing Supreme Court nominations aren't political. They just rule according to the law (whatever it means to them today).

[calcowgirl]

The California Supreme Court is full of wacky liberal activists...

Not really. It has had a reputation of being quite conservative.

Are you thinking of one of the federal courts, perhaps?

[newzjunkey]

I wonder if he’s ill. Moreno’s only been on the CA Supreme Court since ‘01, not even long enough to come up for retention. He’s only 62 and had been considered for the SCOTUS spot Sotomayer took.

[newzjunkey]

You must be confusing it with the 9th Circus Court of Appeals.

Consider the CA Supreme Court, except for Moreno, upheld the limitation of marriage as between one man and one woman. Does that sound like "wacky liberal activists?"

[editor-surveyor]

>> “The California Supreme Court is full of wacky liberal activists” <<

.
Really? - How many?