Monday, June 6, 2011

Chief Appoints Acting 4/3 PJ

As noted in an earlier post, Presiding Justice Sills' retirement requires the Chief Justice to appoint an acting presiding justice for the 4/3 until Governor Brown nominates a permanent successor. 

Today, Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye named Justice William F. Rylaarsdam the 4/3's acting PJ.  He has already been fulfilling these duties admirably, serving as acting PJ while Justice Sills was recuperating away from the court.  The press release notes Justice Rylaarsdam has been "a jurist for 26 years" and is "the senior justice serving on" the 4/3. 

A statistic more telling of Justice Rylaarsdam's many contributions to our profession is this.  I once ran "Rylaarsdam" through the Westlaw Allcases and Texts & Periodicals-All databases.  I got 3,000 hits.  His many opinions, and his work on The Rutter Group's California Practice Guide:  Civil Procedure Before Trial, are as remarkable for their insight as they are for the hard work behind them. 

Congrats!