Martin Jenkins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Martin Jenkins
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| Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California | |
| Assumed office December 4, 2020 |
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| Appointed by | Gavin Newsom |
| Preceded by | Ming W. Chin |
| Associate Justice of the California Court of Appeal from the 1st district |
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| In office April 4, 2008 – January 15, 2019 |
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| Appointed by | Arnold Schwarzenegger |
| Preceded by | Joanne Parrilli |
| Succeeded by | Teri Jackson |
| Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California | |
| In office November 12, 1997 – April 3, 2008 |
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| Appointed by | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Eugene F. Lynch |
| Succeeded by | Edward M. Chen |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Martin Joseph Jenkins
November 12, 1953 San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | City College of San Francisco (AA) Santa Clara University (BA) University of San Francisco (JD) |
Martin Joseph Jenkins (born November 12, 1953) is an American lawyer and judge. He currently serves as an associate justice on the Supreme Court of California. Before this, he was a justice on the California Court of Appeal and a federal judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.
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Early Life and Education
Martin Jenkins was born in San Francisco, California, in 1953. He grew up in the Ingleside neighborhood. He first earned an Associate of Arts degree from City College of San Francisco.
He then went on to Santa Clara University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. While at Santa Clara, he played defensive back for the Santa Clara Broncos football team. After college, he briefly played professional football for the Seattle Seahawks.
Jenkins later attended the University of San Francisco School of Law. He earned his Juris Doctor degree with honors from there.
Career Path
Jenkins began his legal career in 1980 as a law clerk in the Alameda County District Attorney's Office. From 1981 to 1983, he worked as a deputy district attorney, which means he was a prosecutor. He also worked for the United States Department of Justice in the Civil Rights Division from 1983 to 1985.
In 1985, Jenkins returned to the Bay Area to be closer to his family. He then worked as an in-house lawyer for Pacific Bell for four years. Later, he served as the Judicial Appointments Secretary for California Governor Gavin Newsom. This role involved helping the governor choose new judges.
Becoming a Judge
Martin Jenkins was first appointed as a judge in 1989 to the Alameda County Municipal Court. This appointment was made by Republican Governor George Deukmejian. In 1992, another Republican Governor, Pete Wilson, appointed him to the Alameda County Superior Court. He served there until 1997.
In 1997, President Bill Clinton nominated Jenkins to become a United States District Judge. He was confirmed by the United States Senate and began his service on November 12, 1997. He served as a federal judge until 2008.
In 2008, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger nominated Jenkins to the California Court of Appeal. He was confirmed and began serving on April 4, 2008.
Supreme Court of California
On October 5, 2020, Governor Newsom announced he would nominate Jenkins to the Supreme Court of California. This is the highest court in the state. He was confirmed on November 11, 2020, by a 3–0 vote from the Commission on Judicial Appointments.
On December 4, 2020, Martin Jenkins was sworn in as an associate justice. He became the first justice to openly share he is gay. He is also the third African American man and fifth African American person to serve on the court.
In 2022, Justice Jenkins voted with the majority in a case involving the University of California, Berkeley. The court ordered the university to reduce its student enrollment. In November 2022, California voters chose to keep him as an associate justice with 69.4% of the votes.
Personal Life
Martin Jenkins is a member of the Catholic faith. He is also a member of the St. Thomas More Society of San Francisco.
See also
- List of African-American federal judges
- List of African-American jurists
- List of LGBT jurists in the United States
- List of LGBT state supreme court justices in the United States
