Earlier this week over at the Illinois Supreme Court Review, we reviewed the Illinois Supreme Court's experience with recusals in civil cases. This week, we're addressing the same issue here at the California Supreme Court Review. In Illinois, there's no provision for pro tem Justices, and there must be four votes for any decision. In California, pro tem Justices are appointed from the Court of Appeal to fill out the Court when one or more Justices recuses.
In 1994, Chief Justice Lucas and Justices Arabian and Baxter recused in one civil case apiece. In 1995, Justice Werdegar recused in three civil cases. The Chief Justice recused twice, and Justices George, Baxter and Mosk recused once each. In 1996, Justices Brown, George and Chin recused once each. In 1997, Justice Brown led with three recusals. Justice Werdegar recused in two civil cases, and Justices Chin and Baxter recused once each.
In 1998, Justice Chin recused himself from five civil cases. Justice Baxter recused twice, and Justice Werdegar recused herself once. In 1999, Chief Justice George and Justices Brown, Werdegar, Baxter and Mosk recused once each. In 2000, Justice Baxter recused in three civil cases. Justice Werdegar recused twice, and Chief Justice George and Justice Chin recused once each. In 2001, Justice Moreno recused from four cases, Justice Baxter recused three times, and Justices Brown, Werdegar and Chin recused once apiece.
In 2002, Justice Werdegar recused from two civil cases, and Chief Justice George, Justice Chin and Justice Baxter recused once each. In 2003, Justice Chin recused four times, Justices Werdegar and Baxter twice apiece, and Chief Justice George and Justice Kennard recused once apiece. In 2004, Justice Baxter recused from four civil cases, Justice Chin recused twice, and Chief Justice George and Justice Werdegar once each. Finally, in 2005, Chief Justice George recused in two civil cases, Justice Chin recused twice, and Justices Brown, Werdegar, Baxter and Moreno recused in one civil case apiece.
Join us back here tomorrow as continue our analysis of the Court's recusals in civil cases.
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