Every four years, more than a third of California's 93 court of appeal justices face California voters for retention. In addition, several of the seven justices on the California Supreme Court face retention elections every four years. No one may run against the justices.
Voters simply decide yes or no.
The retention election system, adopted by California voters as part of the State Constitution, is designed specifically to foster judges' independence from improper external pressures. Because supreme court justices hold statewide offices, voters everywhere in California decide whether to retain them. In contrast, because court of appeal justices serve in districts, voters in each district alone decide whether to retain them. California's 93 court of appeal justices are divided among six districts, centered in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, Fresno, and San Jose. Supreme and appellate court justices generally do not actively campaign for retention.