Commission for Impartial Courts

About

The Commission for Impartial Courts has been formed to study and recommend ways to ensure judicial impartiality and accountability for the benefit of all Californians. In addition to distinguished appellate justices, trial court judges, and court executive officers, the commission’s membership includes prominent former members of the legislature, as well as leaders of the bar, media, law schools, business community, educational institutions, and civic groups.

The commission is comprised of a steering committee and four task forces. For more information about the steering committee and each of the task forces, please select a link below.

Steering Committee

The commission is being led by an 18-member steering committee, chaired by Associate Justice Ming W. Chin of the California Supreme Court.

The steering committee is charged with overseeing and coordinating the work of the four task forces, receiving the periodic task force reports and recommendations, and presenting overall recommendations to the Judicial Council. The steering committee has a 24-month term, and its task forces have 18-month terms.

Opening Remarks (September 10, 2007) (PDF)
Opening remarks from the Chair of the Commission for Impartial Courts Steering Committee, Associate Justice Ming W. Chin of the California Supreme Court, at the commission’s inaugural meeting on September 10, 2007.

Task Forces

• Task Force on Judicial Selection and Retention
  This task force will evaluate and make recommendations to the steering committee regarding any proposals to improve the methods and procedures of selecting and retaining judges and regarding the terms of judicial office and timing of judicial elections.
• Task Force on Judicial Candidate Campaign Conduct
  This task force will evaluate and make periodic reports and final recommendations to the steering committee regarding any proposals to promote ethical and professional conduct by candidates for judicial office; including through statutory change, promulgation or modification of canons of judicial ethics; improving mechanisms for the enforcement of the canons; and promotion of mechanisms encouraging voluntary compliance with ethics provisions by candidates for judicial office.
• Task Force on Judicial Campaign Finance
  This task force will evaluate and make periodic reports and final recommendations to the steering committee regarding any proposals to better regulate contributions to, financing of, or spending by candidates of campaigns for judicial office, or to improve or better regulate judicial campaign advertising, including through enhanced disclosure requirements.
• Task Force on Public Information and Education
  This task force will evaluate and make periodic reports and final recommendations to the steering committee regarding any proposals to improve public information and education concerning the judiciary, both during judicial election campaigns and otherwise.