Rashida A. AdamsIncumbent

Candidate for Court of Appeal Justice, California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division 3, Seat 3

Rashida A. Adams is the Presiding Justice of the California Court of Appeal. She leads the Second Appellate District, Division Three. She earned her B.A. from Harvard University. She earned her J.D. from Yale Law School. She began her legal career in Washington, D.C. She worked at a firm handling employment discrimination and whistleblower cases. In 2005 she joined a boutique firm in Los Angeles. That firm practiced civil litigation. In 2008 she joined the Court of Appeal as a research attorney. That was in the Second Appellate District, Division Eight. Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. appointed her to the Los Angeles County Superior Court. That was in 2017. There she presided over juvenile dependency and criminal courtrooms. Governor Gavin Newsom nominated her to the Court of Appeal. That was in February 2023. The Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation rated her 'exceptionally well qualified.' The Commission on Judicial Appointments unanimously confirmed her in April 2023. She took her oath on April 17, 2023. On August 7, 2026, Governor Newsom nominated her again. This time it was as Presiding Justice of Division Three. It fills the vacancy left by Presiding Justice Lee Edmon's retirement. The Commission on Judicial Appointments unanimously confirmed her on August 20, 2026. She was appointed since the last governor's election. So she appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot. It is a nonpartisan yes/no retention vote, with no opposing candidate. A majority 'yes' vote retains her as Presiding Justice. A majority 'no' vote would open the seat for a new appointment at the end of the current term.

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