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Laurie M. Earl↗
Administrative Presiding Justice
First vote as Presiding JusticeExceptionally Well Qualified (State Bar, 2023)Trellis trial record
Former public defender and deputy DA; Sacramento trial judge from 2005, presiding judge 2012 to 2013. Credited with helping clear the Third District's case backlog.
On your ballot. Vote Yes or No on keeping Laurie M. Earl on the court (first vote as presiding justice). Appears on ballots in Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, El Dorado, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Yolo and Yuba.
Qualifications
Appointment. Appointed by Gov. Newsom, 2021; Presiding Justice 2023. Retained 2022.
Outside rating. Exceptionally Well Qualified
From the State Bar's Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation, given before the 2023 appointment. This is the commission's assessment, not Trellis's. It was made for the appointment, not for this election; we found no bar rating issued for this retention vote.
Before the bench. Sacramento assistant public defender, then deputy DA, where she filed what she describes as California's first "John Doe" DNA-profile rape prosecution. Sacramento Superior Court judge from 2005; presiding judge 2012 to 2013. Credited with helping clear the Third District's case backlog.
Conduct
No public discipline or controversies found.
What others recommend
- YesIndivisible Marin (Yes on all California justices) (progressive group)
- YesCraig Huey voter guide (conservative guide)
- NoReform California (conservative guide)
In this district, we found published positions mainly from conservative and Republican groups. Most Democratic, progressive and newspaper groups here had not published positions on these justices as of October 16.
Robyn Nordell's conservative guide repeats Craig Huey's picks, so it is not listed separately.
Trellis does not make recommendations. These are positions published by outside groups as of October 16, 2026. Labels describe each group's general leaning.
Notable rulings
- Government & public agenciesRecall voter guide (trial ruling) (2021). Refused a request from recall backers to strike Gov. Newsom's "Republican power grab" description from the voter guide. Read coverage ›
- EmploymentSandhu v. Board of Administration (2025). Upheld CalPERS treating a retiree as an employee of four cities even though his contracts called him an independent contractor. Read the opinion ›
From the trial court record
Heard a mix of cases, most often injury and civil-harm cases (55%). Granted motions somewhat less often than the county average, and cases took about as long as the county average.
Their trial court record, compared with other judges in the county
Bars compare this judge with county and state averages. Differences usually reflect the kinds of cases a judge was assigned.
Motions granted
Average case length
Time to trial
Caseload mix
Torts 54.8%, Creditor 14.9%, Commercial 13.2%
| Motion type | Granted | Rulings | County avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary judgment | 41.2% | 145 | 41.6% |
| Motion to dismiss | 86.5% | 37 | 76.7% |
| Demurrer | 51.8% | 22 | 53.7% |
Sacramento County Superior Court · 2,467 docketsUpdated 2026-10-02 · Full profile →
Sample rulings from the trial bench
- Government & public agenciesSacramento Homeless Union v. City of Sacramento (2020-07-10)Split decision During COVID-19, homeless advocates asked the court to stop encampment sweeps and require more motel housing. The judge held the County health order binds local governments, but found no law requiring housing for everyone. Read the ruling on Trellis ›
- EnvironmentMonterey Coastkeeper v. State Water Resources Control Board (2019-09-27)Split decision Environmental groups had won a challenge to the Water Board's pollution waiver for farm runoff. The Board asked to cut their court-awarded legal fees. The judge refused because the groups achieved their main goal, but trimmed some fees. Read the ruling on Trellis ›
- Government & public agenciesRecords requester v. Elk Grove Unified School District (2019-11-22)Motion denied A person sued a school district for not fully answering a Public Records Act request. The judge found the district responded on time and, with no evidence records were withheld, denied the petition. Read the ruling on Trellis ›
Sources: Daily JournalCourt bio
Others on the same ballot
- Lauri A. DamrellFormer Orrick employment and pay equity partner; Sacramento trial judge 2018 to 2026, where she created the Complex Civil Litigation department. No widely reported appellate rulings yet.
- David B. SappGovernor's Legal Affairs Secretary since 2022 and former ACLU education lawyer; never a trial judge. Nominee who takes the seat in 2027 if retained; no rulings yet.
- Stacy Boulware EurieFormer Senior Assistant Attorney General; Sacramento trial judge for 15 years, including juvenile court presiding judge 2010 to 2018. No widely reported appellate rulings yet.
- Jonathan K. RennerFormer Senior Assistant Attorney General and governor's Legal Affairs Secretary; never a trial judge. The Supreme Court unanimously adopted his partial dissent in a murder-liability case.
- Aimee A. FeinbergFormer U.S. Supreme Court clerk and California Deputy Solicitor General 2014 to 2023; never a trial judge. Appointed 2024; no widely reported rulings yet.
- Shama Hakim MesiwalaFirst South Asian and Muslim woman on a California appellate court; Sacramento trial judge 2017 to 2023. Supreme Court unanimously adopted her dissent in a school abuse case.