Candidate for
California State Court of Appeal; District 4; Division 3

The appointment of Justice Kathleen E. O'Leary to the California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division Three by Governor Gray Davis was unanimously confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments on January 21, 2000. Witnesses testifying in support of her confirmation included Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona, Justice Patricia Bamattre-Manoukian of the Sixth Appellate District and Orange County Judge Frances Munoz.

Prior to her appointment to the appellate court, Justice O'Leary served on the Orange County Superior Court. She was appointed to the Orange County Superior Court on July 1, 1986 by Governor George Deukmejian, and was in her third term as the Presiding Judge of that court when elevated to the Court of Appeal. Justice O'Leary began her judicial career at the West Orange County Municipal Court in 1981, where she also served both as the presiding judge and the assistant presiding judge.

Throughout her judicial career Justice O'Leary has been active in judicial and law-related education efforts. She is a past member and past chair of the Governing Committee of the California Center for Judicial Education and Research (CJER). A primary focus for her has been an effort to increase awareness of the need to facilitate access to justice for all through judicial education. In addition to teaching a number of courses in California for judicial officers, judicial branch staff, law enforcement and lawyers, she has taught courses for the Hawaii Judiciary and the Virginia-based National Center for State Courts.

Justice O'Leary has served as a member of the Judicial Council of California, the constitutionally mandated body responsible for improving the administration of justice in California, and a number of its advisory committees and has also served numerous task forces by appointment of the Chief Justice. She currently chairs the Judicial Council's Task Force on Self-Represented Litigants.

Recent awards received by Justice O'Leary include the Judicial Council's Jurist of the Year Award (1999)and the Southwestern University School of Law Outstanding Judicial Officer Award (1999). Other organizations which have recognized Justice O'Leary's achievements include the Orange County Sheriff's Department, the Hispanic Bar Association, the Asian American Bar Foundation, the Orange County Women Lawyers, the American Legion, the California Consumer Attorneys, the League of Women Voters, the Sons of the American Revolution and the Association of Deputy Marshals of Orange County.