Charles F. AdamsIncumbent

Candidate for Court of Appeal Justice, California Court of Appeal, Sixth Appellate District, Seat 4

Charles Adams is the newest member of the California Court of Appeal, Sixth Appellate District, in San Jose. He was sworn in as an Associate Justice in August 2026. He earned a B.A. from the University of California, Davis. He earned a J.D. from Pepperdine University School of Law. He worked as an associate in private practice from 2003 to 2006. He then worked as a staff attorney and legal research attorney at the Santa Clara County Superior Court, from 2006 to 2011. After that, he was an administrative law clerk at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, from 2011 to 2018. Gov. Jerry Brown put him on the Santa Clara County Superior Court in October 2018, and he served on that trial court until his move up. Gov. Gavin Newsom put his name up for the Sixth District Court of Appeal on June 2, 2026. That seat had come open when Justice Patricia Bamattre-Manoukian chose to retire. The Commission on Judicial Appointments confirmed him, with no votes against, on August 6, 2026. Per the roster kept by the Secretary of State, he took his oath that same day. Because he was picked to fill a term already in progress, Adams faces his first retention vote on the November 3, 2026 ballot. If most voters mark yes, he keeps his seat. The Sixth District hears appeals from Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Monterey counties.

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