The California Appellate Court Legacy Project
In 2006, the California Appellate Court Legacy Project was undertaken to interview all retired justices in the state, as well as active justices who may be nearing retirement. Overseen by the Appellate Court Legacy Project Committee (chaired by Associate Justice Judith L. Haller of the Fourth Appellate District, Division One), interviews are videotaped or audiotaped and conducted by interviewers selected from within the appellate branch. Ultimately the tapes will be made available to judicial colleagues, historians, scholars, law students, and members of the public. The resulting archive will be an historical record of both the personal experiences of individual justices and the evolution of the California appellate courts. |
Centennial Celebration
2005 marked the centennial celebration of the California Courts of Appeal. In 1905 the first nine justices were appointed to serve in three appellate districts: San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Sacramento. Today, the state Courts of Appeal comprise 105 justices in six districts, which now include San Diego, Fresno, and San Jose, as well as court sites in Ventura, Riverside, and Santa Ana.
As California's intermediate courts of review, the Courts of Appeal provide access to justice by ensuring that the law is interpreted and applied consistently and uniformly.
From left to right: James A. Ardaiz, Fifth District (Fresno); Arthur G. Scotland, Third District (Sacramento); William R. McGuiness, First District (San Francisco); Chief Justice George; Roger W. Boren, Second District (Los Angeles); Judith D. McConnell, Fourth District (San Diego); and Conrad L. Rushing, Sixth District (San Jose). (Photo: Michael J. Elderman)
Centennial Materials:
Centennial Celebration Keynote Speech (April 10, 2005) California Courts of Appeal 100th Anniversary Celebration Dinner, Keynote Remarks by ABA President Robert Grey
"Striving for Justice: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow" Centennial Booklet (PDF, 11.6 MB)
"Striving for Justice: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow" Historical Snapshot (PDF, 1.7 MB)
"Striving for Justice: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow" 
(Video)
Transcript (DOC, 44 KB)
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Special Court Session Addresses (presented on April 11, 2005)
- Susan Prager, Professor, UCLA School of Law (PDF, 1,475 KB)
- Richard Sherman, President, California Academy of Appellate Lawyers (PDF, 38 KB)
- Jonathan Steiner, Executive Director, California Appellate Project - Los Angeles (PDF, 19 KB)
- Bill Lockyer, former Attorney General of California (PDF, 463 KB)
