First Gay Black Nominee to California Supreme Court

Judge Martin Jenkins... Serving as Governor's Secretary
Governor: "Jenkins is the Guardian of the California Dream"

▲Martin Jenkins, nominee for the California Supreme Court Justice [Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] A gay Black man has been nominated as a candidate for the California Supreme Court.

According to CNN on the 5th (local time), Gavin Newsom, the Democratic governor of California, nominated Judge Martin Jenkins as a candidate for the Supreme Court.

This is the first time the California state government has nominated a homosexual person as a Supreme Court candidate, and the third time a Black person has been appointed.

Governor Newsom said at an online press conference, "Jenkins is a guardian of the California Dream."

Candidate Jenkins expressed his thoughts, saying, "Life as a homosexual was not easy," and "I have come to this position after a struggle."

Jenkins was a promising American football player who, in his youth, even signed a contract with the NFL team Seattle Seahawks, but he gave up his dream of becoming a professional player and changed his career path to become a civil rights lawyer.

He has served as a judge of the Oakland District Court, a judge of the Alameda County Superior Court, and a judge of the California Court of Appeal. After Governor Newsom was elected, Jenkins worked as the governor's secretary in charge of judicial appointments.

Candidate Jenkins is expected to be finally appointed as a Supreme Court justice after undergoing review by the state Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission and approval by the Judicial Appointments Commission.

If Jenkins is appointed as a Supreme Court justice, the California Supreme Court will be composed of two white justices, two Black justices, two Asian justices, and one Latino justice.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.