Governor names federal lawyer, Pasadena native to
California Supreme Court
Gov. Jerry Brown nominated federal government lawyer Leondra
R. Kruger to the California Supreme Court last month. At 38, Kruger will be one
of the court’s youngest justices ever and its only African-American. If
confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments, Kruger will succeed Associate
Justice Joyce Kennard, who retired from the court earlier in the year.
Kruger’s nomination grabbed headlines around California with
observers noting Kruger’s impressive list of accomplishments despite her young
age. The Los
Angeles Times quoted Santa Clara University Law Professor and high court
expert Gerald Uelmen, who called Kruger’s
appointment a “mindblower” and theorized it might be part of an effort by Brown
“to give the California Supreme Court greater stature nationally.” The Sacramento
Bee wrote that Kruger will be joining two other Democrats on the court,
which under Brown is looking younger, more diverse and less conservative. Brown
also appointed Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar,
who was born in Mexico, and Goodwin Liu, whose parents immigrated from Taiwan.
Both are in their 40s.
A deputy assistant attorney general at the Department of
Justice in Washington, Kruger is “perhaps the biggest
surprise to date of Brown's picks to the seven-member court,” reported the San
Jose Mercury News, adding her selection fits
in that the governor prefers “glittering legal résumés to judicial
experience.” The Associated Press wrote
that Kruger will be only the second black woman to serve on the court and
quoted the chairwoman of the California Legislative Black
Caucus, who applauded Kruger’s selection.
The Recorder delved into the state Supreme
Court nominee’s background – she was born and raised in Pasadena, attended Yale
Law School, quickly climbed the legal ranks and has argued a staggering 13
cases before the Supreme Court. The Daily Journal quoted Jeffrey Fisher, a
Stanford Law professor who has seen her in action before the Supreme Court.
“Many people who have known her have expected whatever she was going to do next
was going to be important,” he said. “Did this leap to mind? No. But it makes
perfect sense.”