An updated list of retired jurists who endorse Justice Goodwin Liu for Attorney General of California.

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February 2, 2021 [second update]
BY EMAIL
The Honorable Gavin Newsom
Governor of the State of California
California State Capitol, First Floor
Sacramento, California 95814
RE: Retired Jurists Endorse Justice Liu for Attorney General of California
Dear Governor Newsom:
As former members of the state and federal bench, we write to express our
enthusiastic support of California Supreme Court Justice Goodwin Liu as a worthy
successor to Attorney General Xavier Becerra. Most of us know Justice Liu
personally as a judicial colleague or fellow scholar. All of us are thoroughly familiar
with his work. Each of us can attest that he is deeply thoughtful, sincere, and
committed to equal justice under the law.
During our service as judicial officers, we presided routinely over cases in
which state Attorneys General litigated challenging issues of statewide and
national significance. We know from firsthand experience that to be effective, an
Attorney General must embrace and model values fundamental to our profession.
He or she must have utmost respect for constitutional rights and limits on
governmental authority. He or she must possess fidelity to the rule of law,
separation of powers, and judicial independence. He or she must be committed
to expanding access to justice and rooting out discrimination and bias in all its
forms. And he or she must have a relentless commitment to excellence and high
ethical standards. Justice Liu possesses all these qualities, along with a reputation
befitting California’s stature in our nation and the world.
We know that you understand these values better than most. Your father
served for twenty years as a distinguished jurist on California’s courts. The actions
you now take as Governor often result in litigation, with the Attorney General
serving as your legal representative. We urge you to choose an Attorney General
with real intellectual heft and legal expertise, one who will work alongside you to
navigate and overcome the unprecedented crises confronting California and our
nation. Appointing Justice Liu as Attorney General would emphatically signal your
commitment to diversity, excellence, and the rule of law, as well as your desire that
the people of California have top-notch legal representation. President-Elect Joe
Biden’s nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to serve as the Attorney General of
the United States is a timely reminder of the benefits of having someone with
judicial experience in this role.

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The Honorable Gavin Newsom
Page Two
Throughout his decade on California’s highest court, Justice Liu has
decided hundreds of cases and thousands of petitions for review, including the
most complex criminal and civil matters of federal and state law. A substantial
portion of these matters have been litigated by the Attorney General on behalf of
the people of California. From his tenure on the bench, Justice Liu has gained
unique insight into the nuances of the Attorney General’s briefing, strategies, and
implementation of judicial opinions. As Attorney General, he would deploy this
expertise every day to achieve results for all Californians.
Justice Liu has served on California’s Access to Justice Commission, where
he worked to expand pro bono legal services and ensure that the courts are
accessible to everyday people, including the most disadvantaged Californians. He
also has been a national leader in promoting diversity in the legal profession;
currently, he is at the forefront of a multi-year research project on law clerk
diversity. Given his track record, we have no doubt that he would meaningfully
advance diversity and access to justice as Attorney General.
In sum, the depth and breadth of Justice Liu’s knowledge of the law, his
commitment to equal justice, and his intimate familiarity with the Attorney General’s
role persuade us that he would be extraordinarily effective as California’s chief law
enforcement officer. He has earned the universal respect of his fellow jurists, past
and present, regardless of party. We recommend that you appoint Justice Liu as
the next Attorney General of California.
Respectfully,
ASSOCIATE JUSTICE MING CHIN (RET.)
Supreme Court of California
ASSOCIATE JUSTICE KATHRYN WERDEGAR (RET.)
Supreme Court of California
ASSOCIATE JUSTICE CARLOS MORENO (RET.)
Supreme Court of California
JUDGE THELTON HENDERSON (RET.)
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

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JUDGE JEREMY FOGEL (RET.)
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
CHIEF JUSTICE MARGARET H. MARSHALL (RET.)
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
CHIEF JUSTICE WALLACE B. JEFFERSON (RET.)
Supreme Court of Texas
CHIEF JUSTICE SCOTT BALES (RET.)
Supreme Court of Arizona
JUDGE NANCY GERTNER (RET.)
U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
JUDGE BRENDA HARBIN-FORTE (RET.)
Superior Court of California, Alameda County
JUDGE JOHN M. TRUE III (RET.)
Superior Court of California, Alameda County
JUDGE A. HOWARD MATZ (RET.)
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
JUDGE MARILYN HALL PATEL (RET.)
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
JUDGE GARY A. FEESS (RET.)
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
JUSTICE HARRY LOW (RET.)
California Court of Appeal, First Appellate District
JUDGE HOWARD HALM (RET.)
Superior Court of California, Los Angeles County