Appellate Justice Marsha Slough has announced she will retire Aug. 31.
Slough was appointed to the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division Two by Gov. Jerry Brown in 2015. Before then, she was presiding judge at San Bernardino Superior Court.
“The past 20 years has afforded me the unique privilege of observing firsthand the importance of the rule of law and the true value in a commitment to justice for all,” Slough wrote in the announcement of her retirement. “I am grateful and fortunate to have had the opportunity to participate in the work of the Judicial Council and to have worked closely with Chief Justice (Tani) Cantil-Sakauye and, for only a short time, Chief Justice (Patricia) Guerrero. They represent the true definition of strong, decisive, focused leaders—who lead always from the desire to make the judicial branch better for all. I am also grateful to Governors Brown and Newsom for their commitment to bringing diversity to the bench throughout this state—it has made us better,” she continued.
Slough was appointed to San Bernardino Superior Court in 2003, by Gov. Gray Davis. She served as presiding judge of the juvenile court, then assistant presiding judge twice before being appointed presiding judge.
She was the first openly gay justice of the Fourth District Court of Appeal.
She authored 55 published opinions and 399 unpublished opinions while serving on the court.
“From presiding judge to justice, Justice Slough combined astute policies with compassionate leadership. She was instrumental in leading and building the most critical, sensitive, and impactful policies of the Judicial Council,” said Cantil-Sakauye.
Slough was the chair of seven Judicial Council committees or workgroups: the Workgroup on Post-Pandemic Initiatives, the Pretrial Reform and Operations Workgroup and the Executive and Planning Committee, the Technology Committee, the Technology Planning Task Force, the Trial Court Presiding Judges Advisory Committee and the Code of Civil Procedure Section 367.9 Working Group.
She served on three other workgroups: the Commission on the Future of California’s Court System Executive Committee, the Trial Court Budget Advisory Committee, the Collaborative Justice Courts Advisory Committee and the Task Force on Trial Court Fiscal Accountability, of which Slough was vice-chair.
In February, Slough wrote the first opinion in the state that overturned a murder conviction for being based on rap lyrics, applying a recent California law.
A March 2022 ruling criticized San Bernardino County and their juvenile courts for consistently failing to satisfy the federal Indian Child Welfare Act.
Slough’s April 2022 published ruling clarified that the right for victims to refuse deposition under Marsy’s Law does not apply to civil proceedings.
Her other published opinions established precedent on state employee discipline, gang convictions and attorney fees.
