Info on ‘Invisible’ Candidates

Perhaps the most baffling thing California voters face in most election years is the balloting for the state Supreme Court and the various district courts of appeal. Every 12 years, each justice must seek confirmation on the ballot for an additional 12 years. Voters can mark either yes or no.

These elections get little attention except when there is an effort to oust a justice. This year, voters will have a new tool to help them learn about the justices up for reconfirmation. The 61-page Judicial Information Booklet was issued by the office of Secretary of State Bill Jones this past week, giving biographical sketches on all the justices on the ballot.

Four Supreme Court justices will be on the statewide ballot this November: Chief Justice Ronald M. George and Associate Justices Janice Rogers Brown, Ming William Chin and Stanley Mosk.

Forty appeals court justices are running, with voters casting ballots only on the justices serving within their geographical districts. Eleven justices will be on ballots in the 1st District, which covers Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. Ten are running in the 4th District, which includes Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Imperial counties.

The booklet can be obtained by calling (800) 345-VOTE and is available on the secretary of state’s Internet site at www.ss.ca.gov. Any tool that allows Californians to become more knowledgeable as voters is welcome.