California Justice Jenkins to Retire from State’s High Court

Oct. 9, 2025, 11:50 PM UTC

California Supreme Court Associate Justice Martin J. Jenkins announced his plan to retire from the California Supreme Court on Thursday.

Jenkins, 71, made history as the first openly gay justice and the third Black man to serve on California’s highest court when Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed him in 2020. His retirement will become effective at the end of October.

Jenkins’ replacement will be appointed by Newsom since the outgoing justice is in the middle of his current term on the bench.

“Having been a judge at every level of the state court system and with the federal district court, I ...

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