Charles A. SmileyIncumbent

Candidate for Court of Appeal Justice, California Court of Appeal, First Appellate District, Division 1, Seat 2

Charles A. Smiley is an Associate Justice of the California Court of Appeal, First Appellate District, Division One. Ballotpedia lists him as Charles A. Smiley III. He earned a bachelor's degree from UC Berkeley. He earned a J.D. from UC Hastings College of the Law, now called UC Law San Francisco. Early in his career, he was a deputy public defender in the Alameda County Public Defender's Office. He has taught trial advocacy at UC Law San Francisco and Berkeley Law. He served as a commissioner of the Alameda County Superior Court from 2007 to 2012. He then served as a judge of that court, from 2012 until his elevation. Governor Gavin Newsom nominated him to the Court of Appeal. The Commission on Judicial Appointments confirmed him on February 14, 2025. His appointment came after the 2024 general election. So November 3, 2026 is his first appellate retention election. It is a nonpartisan, unopposed yes-or-no vote on whether he stays on the court.

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