Women judges show biggest increase, men biggest decline, says Judicial Council report

Demographic changes in California's judiciary showed the biggest increase for women judges in the past year and the largest decline for male judges, according to a Judicial Council report.

Women made up 37.4% of all judges and men 62.6% as of Dec. 31, 2019, according to the report made public March 1.

The report covered judges' and justices' self-reported data relative to gender, race and ethnicity, gender identity and sexual orientation, and military veteran and disabled status. But it does not offer an intersection of these variables. For instance, it indicates how many more women judges were gained last year compared to 2018 but not how many of those women were Hispanic, Lesbian, disabled or veterans.

The report also shows that even though courts in heavily populated counties added the most women, courts in more rural counties also saw more women judges being sworn in. For example, Yuba County, which has a smaller population than Burbank or San Jose, now has the highest ratio of female to male judges -- 60%.

Los Angeles County saw the largest increase in new female judges, gaining 11 new women since last year. The county also has the greatest number of women judges at 188.

Glenn County and Lake County both swore in a female judge each, up from no women trial judges in 2018. Judge Alicia R. Ekland became Glenn County's first female judge.

The report also provides an overview of data going back to 2008 and shows that since that time the number of women judges has risen by 9.1% and the number of male judges has decreased by 8.5%.

As for the racial demographics category of the report, the data showed a general decline in the number of judges and justices who identify as "white only." The largest increase in a single racial and ethnic category was among judges who listed "more than one race" as their response to the Judicial Council survey.

In second place was the increase in Asian and Hispanic-Latino judges. Pacific Islanders gained slightly.

The percentages of "Black or African American" and "Native American or Alaska native" judges stayed the same. But for the first time the actual number of Asian judges was more than Black or African American judges.

Those who "identify as some other race" saw no increase or decrease.

Since 2008, the "no response" category for race or ethnicity declined from 6.4% to 2.0%, providing more data for the annual report, which is required by the Legislature.

During that same period respondents who identify as Asian, Black or African American and Hispanic or Latino have nearly doubled, Pacific Islanders and respondents who identify as some other race have more than doubled and Native American and Alaskan natives have increased four-fold.

In comparing changes in gender identity and sexual orientation from 2018 to 2019, the two reports show not much difference. "Heterosexual" and "information not provided" remained the most common responses in both years, and there were no significant changes in numbers or percentages of new LGBTQ judges sworn in or retiring. The report does not provide historic data for gender identity and sexual preference the same way it does for gender and race and ethnicity.

The report also shows military veteran and disabled judges saw no significant increase between 2018 and 2019. One veteran and four disabled judges were gained in 2019.

The report also provides a regional overview and shows Los Angeles County is the most demographically diverse court in California with respondents identifying with every racial and ethnic demographic category listed in the report. The county also has the most veteran and disabled judges.

As of Tuesday, there are 70 vacancies on the superior courts and one appellate court vacancy, according to the Judicial Council's Vacancy Roster Report, dated Feb. 29.