How are county judges appointed in Riverside County’s Superior Court?

Staff Reports
·3 min read

How are county judges appointed [in Riverside County’s Superior Court]? Why are some elected and others appointed? What kind of standards are there for candidates to be considered for appointment or election as a judge?

— An incarcerated reader

California’s 58 counties each have a superior court system in which criminal and civil cases are heard. Judges serve six-year terms and are either elected or appointed. People who are admitted to practice law in California or who have served as a judge for at least 10 years can run for judge seats during general elections. The governor appoints judges to seats opened by retirement, death or other means. The State Bar of California’s Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation reviews the governor’s judge appointments and investigates each. Appointed judges face voters at the next gubernatorial election. All judges must abide by the California Code of Judicial Ethics. If violated, judges can be removed and are no longer eligible for reelection.

— Christopher Damien, investigative reporter

Q: I would like to know what is being constructed on Jefferson and Highway 111, just south of the wash and the Mobil station on the west side of Jefferson [in Indio]?

— Stan Redman

A: The Pacific Companies is building a multi-family affordable housing project at this intersection that will have a total of 400 apartment units, said Darren Berberian, a business developer at The Pacific Companies. The company will have two affordable housing communities at this location: Arroyo Crossing Phase 1 will have 184 apartment units and Arroyo Crossing Phase 2 will have 216 apartment units.

— Dean Trombino, intern 

Congressman Raul Ruiz, a medical doctor, administers a vaccine to Desert Hot Springs Councilmember Gary Gardner at the senior center in Desert Hot Springs, Calif, on Oct. 28, 2022.
Congressman Raul Ruiz, a medical doctor, administers a vaccine to Desert Hot Springs Councilmember Gary Gardner at the senior center in Desert Hot Springs, Calif, on Oct. 28, 2022.

When do the redrawn electoral districts take effect, upon adoption or after the next election cycle when the new terms start?  For example, I live in Palm Springs. Is Raul Ruiz still my congressman based on the last election or did Ken Calvert become my congressman upon adoption of the new congressional map?

— Mike Cashion

Redrawn electoral districts, which were approved by the California Citizens Redisticting Commission late last year, take effect after the next election cycle. For example, Democratic Rep. Raul Ruiz is still representing California’s 36th Congressional District, which covers the entire valley, but that district will go away after the 2022 election.

Ruiz is seeking re-election in the new 25th District, which encompasses Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, Coachella and Indio, along with all of Imperial County and a sliver of eastern San Bernardino County. He is running against Republican Brian Hawkins, a San Jacinto city councilmember, in the Nov. 8 election.

In Palm Springs, long-time GOP Rep. Ken Calvert, of Corona, is seeking re-election against Democrat Will Rollins in the new 41st District.

— Tom Coulter, mid-valley reporter

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This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: How are county judges appointed in Riverside County’s Superior Court?