California · Judicial research
Is this judge a Democrat or Republican?
Start with the source. A judge’s reported party affiliation, the office’s nonpartisan status and the judge’s record answer different questions.
The short answer
California Supreme Court and Court of Appeal offices are nonpartisan. A governor’s appointment announcement may separately report the appointee’s party affiliation. That historical statement does not establish current registration or predict a ruling.
Official election procedureGuide and linked examples reviewed November 4, 2026. Historical source dates appear below.
Check the original
Two examples, with dated evidence.
These reports describe what the Governor’s office published at the time. Neither is a new check of voter registration.
California Supreme Court
Joshua P. Groban
- Reported affiliation
- Democrat
- Announcement published
- Current registration
- Not independently rechecked
Court of Appeal · Second District
Natalie P. Stone
- Reported affiliation
- Democrat
- Announcement date (title)
- Current registration
- Not independently rechecked
A practical method
Research the person, then the record.
Match the full name and court.
Use the court, district and division to distinguish people with similar names. A permanent court profile and a dated ballot question serve different purposes.
Look for a direct statement.
Search the Governor’s official appointment archive for the named person. Record the publication date and exact wording. The appointing governor’s party, an endorsement or a campaign contribution is not proof of the judge’s affiliation.
Read beyond the party label.
Open the official court biography for education and work history. When examining an opinion, read the question decided and the actual reasoning; distinguish a majority opinion from a concurrence or dissent.
Keep unknowns visible.
If a cited source does not report affiliation, say it is not established by that source. Do not turn missing information into “independent,” or a dated affiliation report into a current ideological rating.
Know what each record tells you
Party, office and endorsement are different.
- Nonpartisan office
- Describes the judicial office and election procedure. It does not mean the person has no political affiliation.
- Reported affiliation
- A named source’s statement about the individual on a particular date. Check who reported it and when.
- Endorsement
- Someone’s expression of support. Evaluate its author and date separately from official background and ballot facts.
What did “Yes” or “No” mean in 2026?
The November 3, 2026 Supreme Court and Court of Appeal questions asked voters whether to retain each named justice. They were not head-to-head contests. The Secretary of State’s guide explains the appointment, confirmation and retention process.
This guide addresses Supreme Court and Court of Appeal research. It is not a complete guide to county Superior Court contests, and it does not recommend a vote.