Judge Martin Jenkins, 66, was confirmed unanimously Tuesday to the California Supreme Court, becoming the first openly gay black justice on the state high court and the fifth Black justice in the court’s history (article available here). A report from the state's Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation concluded that Jenkins is "exceptionally well qualified" — the highest possible assessment — to serve on the court. "He is praised for his brilliant intellect, first-class temperament and boundless humanity."
Jenkins went from playing on the Seattle Seahawks to the University of San Francisco School of Law and then to the Alameda County District Attorney’s office. He served on the Oakland Municipal Court, Alameda County Superior Court, Northern District of California, and the California Court of Appeal for the First District. Judge Jenkins retired from the intermediate court of appeal in 2019 and went to work as the Governor's judicial appointments secretary.