Well, if you’re like me, you already figured out who you’re going to vote for in most races on the ballot and which ballot measures you’re voting for and against quite some time ago.  However, you’re probably thoroughly confused about the justices on the ballot since they don’t campaign, and they don’t have ballot statements.  We’re literally staring at names on a ballot.

I realize the justices are usually retained by 70%+, but I still prefer to try to be informed with my vote, rather than blindly picking.  I also have to keep in mind, that if a “No” vote prevails for any justice, Governor Jerry Brown picks the replacement.

In my 11th hour research, I tried to learn more about the justices, so I figured since I had the info, I might as well share with our readers Election Morning:

Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court

• Goodwin Liu
  Official Biography
  Law School Biography
  Wikipedia Biography
  Judgepedia Biography
  California Supreme Court Justice Since 2011, Appointed by Governor Jerry Brown (D)
  U.S. Senate Republicans filibustered his nomination to the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals by President Barack Obama (D)
  Professor of Law at UC Berkeley, 2003-2011
  Private Practice, O’Melveny & Meyers, 2001-2003
  Law Clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 2000-2001
  Special Assistant to the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education, 1999-2000
  Law Clerk for U.S. D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge David Tatel, 1998-1999
  Juris Doctor, Yale University
  Master’s in Philosophy and Physiology, Oxford University
  Bachelor’s in Biology, Stanford University
  Registered Democrat
• Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar
  Law School Biography
  Wikipedia Biography
  Judgepedia Biography
  California Supreme Court Justice Appointed by Governor Jerry Brown (D), Will Take Office in 2015 if Approved by Voters
  Professor of Law at Stanford since 2001
  Special Assistant to the President for Justice and Regulatory Policy, 2009-2010
  Co-Chair, Immigration Policy Working Group for Obama-Biden Transition Team, 2008-2009
  Law Clerk for U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Chief Judge Mary Schroeder, 2000-2001
  Senior Advisor to the U.S. Undersecretary of the Treasury, 1997-1999
  Bachelor’s in Government and Political Psychology, Harvard University
  Master’s in Political Science, Stanford University
  Juris Doctor, Yale University
  Ph.D. in Political Science, Stanford University
  Registered Democrat
• Kathryn Mickle Werdegar
  Official Biography
  Wikipedia Biography
  Judgepedia Biography
  California Supreme Court Justice Since 1994, Appointed by Governor Pete Wilson (R)
  California First Circuit Court of Appeal Justice, 1988-1994, Appointed by Governor George Deukmejian (R)
  Professor of Law at the University of San Francisco
  Senior Staff Attorney, California Courts of Appeal and California Supreme Court
  Director of Criminal Law Division for Continuing Education at the California State Bar
  United States Department of Justice
  Bachelor’s, University of California, Berkeley
  Juris Doctor, George Washington University (Began Law Work at UC Berkeley)
  Registered Republican

There’s a lot less info out there about the appellate justices than the Supreme Court justices.

Associate Justices of the California 4th District Court of Appeal, Division 1

• Terry B. O’Rourke
  Official Biography
  Judgepedia Biography
  California Fourth District Court of Appeal Associate Justice Since 1998, Appointed by Governor Pete Wilson (R)
  San Diego County Superior Court Judge, 1987-1998, Appointed by Governor George Deukmejian (R)
  Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge, 1984-1987, Appointed by Governor George Deukmejian (R)
  Private Practice, 1973-1984
  Bachelor’s, Claremont McKenna College
  Juris Doctor, Harvard University
  Registered Republican
• Gilbert Nares
  Official Biography
  Judgepedia Biography
  California Fourth District Court of Appeal Justice Since 1988, Appointed by Governor George Deukmejian (R)
  San Diego County Superior Court Judge, 1978-1998, Appointed by Governor Jerry Brown (D)
  San Diego County Municipal Court Judge, 1976-1978, Appointed by Governor Jerry Brown (D)
  Private Practice, Daubney, Banche, Patterson & Nares, 1968-1976
  Bachelor’s in Economics and Philosophy, University of San Diego
  Juris Doctor, University of San Diego
  Registered Republican
• Alex C. McDonald
  Official Biography
  Judgepedia Biography
  California Fourth District Court of Appeal Associate Justice Since 1995, Appointed by Governor Pete Wilson (R)
  Private Practice, 1963-1995
  Law Clerk for California Supreme Court Justice Raymond Peters
  Bachelor’s in Industrial Engineering, Stanford University
  Bachelor of Laws, University of California, Berkeley
  Master of Laws, University of Virginia
  Registered Republican
• James A. McIntyre
  Official Biography
  Wikipedia Biography
  Judgepedia Biography
  California Fourth District Court of Appeal Justice Since 1996, Appointed by Governor Pete Wilson (R)
  San Diego County Superior Court Judge, 1993-1996, Appointed by Governor Pete Wilson (R)
  Private Practice, McInnis, Fitzgerald, Rees, Sharkey & McIntyre, 1963-1993
  Bachelor’s in Philosophy, Brown University
  Bachelor of Laws, Stanford University
  Registered Republican

Associate Justice of the California 4th District Court of Appeal, Division 2

• Thomas E. Hollenhorst
  Official Biography
  Judgepedia Biography
  California Fourth District Court of Appeal Associate Justice Since 1988, Appointed by Governor George Deukmejian (R)
  Riverside County Superior Court Judge, 1981-1988, Appointed by Governor Jerry Brown (D)
  Riverside County Municipal Court Judge, 1981-1981, Appointed by Governor Jerry Brown (D)
  Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, 1972-1981
  Bachelor’s, San Jose State University
  Juris Doctor, University of California, Hastings
  Master of Laws, University of Virginia
  Registered Democrat

Presiding Justice of the California 4th District Court of Appeal, Division 3

• Kathleen E. O’Leary
  Official Biography
  Judgepedia Biography
  California Fourth District Court of Appeal Presiding Justice Since 2012, Appointed by Governor Jerry Brown (D)
  California Fourth District Court of Appeal Associate Justice, 2000-2012, Appointed by Governor Gray Davis (D)
  Orange County Superior Court Judge, 1986-2000, Appointed by Governor George Deukmejian (R)
  Orange County Municipal Court Judge, 1981-1986, Appointed by Governor Jerry Brown (D)
  Private Practice, 1975-1981
  Bachelor’s, Loyola Marymount University
  Juris Doctor, Southwestern University
  Registered Democrat

Associate Justices of the California 4th District Court of Appeal, Division 3

• William F. Rylaarsdam
  Official Biography
  Wikipedia Biography
  Judgepedia Biography
  California Fourth District Court of Appeal Associate Justice Since 1995, Appointed by Governor Pete Wilson (R)
  California Fourth District Court of Appeal Acting Presiding Justice, 2011-2012, Appointed by Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye
  Orange County Superior Court Judge, 1986-1995, Appointed by Governor George Deukmejian (R)
  Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge, 1985-1986, Appointed by Governor George Deukmejian (R)
  Private Practice, 1964-1985
  Bachelor’s, University of California, Berkeley
  Juris Doctor, Loyola Law School
  Master of Laws, University of Virginia
  Registered Republican
• Richard M. Aronson
  Official Biography
  Judgepedia Biography
  California Fourth District Court of Appeal Associate Justice Since 2001, Appointed by Governor Gray Davis (D)
  California Fourth District Court of Appeal Associate Justice Pro Tempore, 2000-2001
  Orange County Superior Court Judge, 1996-2000, Appointed by Governor Pete Wilson (R)
  Superior Court Commissioner, 1989-1996
  Senior Staff Attorney, California Courts of Appeal, 1988-1989
  Supervisor of Writs and Appeals, Orange County Public Defender’s Office, 1980-1988
  Deputy District Attorney, San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office, 1976-1979
  Private Practice, 1964-1985
  Bachelor’s, University of San Diego
  Juris Doctor, University of San Diego
  Master of Laws, University of Virginia
  Registered Republican
• David A. Thompson
  Official Biography
  Judgepedia Biography
  California Fourth District Court of Appeal Associate Justice Since 2012, Appointed by Governor Jerry Brown (D)
  Orange County Superior Court Judge, 1998-2012, Appointed by Governor Pete Wilson (R)
  Private Practice, Morrison and Foerster, 1988-1997
  Private Practice, Rutan and Tucker, 1984-1988
  Staff Attorney, California Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division Three, 1983
  Superior Court Commissioner, 1989-1996
  Bachelor’s in Business Administration, Georgetown University
  Juris Doctor, University of California, Los Angeles
  Registered Republican
• Richard D. Fybel
  Official Biography
  Judgepedia Biography
  California Fourth District Court of Appeal Associate Justice Since 2002, Appointed by Governor Gray Davis (D)
  Orange County Superior Court Judge, 2000-2002, Appointed by Governor Gray Davis (D)
  Private Practice, Morrison and Foerster, 1981-2000
  Private Practice, Nossaman, Guthner, Knox & Elliot, 1971-1981
  Bachelor’s in Business Administration, University of California, Los Angeles
  Juris Doctor, University of California, Los Angeles
  Registered Democrat