1. Tani Cantil-Sakauye was nominated by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to serve as chief justice on July 22,2010, and retained in office by California voters on November 2,2010, she was sworn in on January 3,2011 as California's first Filipino and first woman of color to serve as California's Chief Justice.
On September 28,2022, the Public Policy Institute of California announced that Tani Cantil-Sakauye would become its president and chief executive officer, effective January 1,2023.
Tani Cantil-Sakauye's Hawaii-born father, Clarence, was of Filipino and Portuguese ancestry, while her mother, Mary Gorre, was Filipino.
Tani Cantil-Sakauye served there until 2005, when Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed her as an Associate Justice of the California Third District Court of Appeal to succeed Daniel Kolkey.
Tani Cantil-Sakauye has served as President of the Anthony M Kennedy American Inns of Court, an organization promoting civility, ethics, and professionalism in the practice of law.
On July 27,2022, Tani Cantil-Sakauye announced she will retire at the end of her term on January 1,2023.
In 2016, Tani Cantil-Sakauye led the effort at bail reform and to reclassify minor traffic infractions as civil instead of criminal to promote fairness of the law.
In September 2016, Tani Cantil-Sakauye addressed the related matter of funding for the State Bar of California.
In 2012, Tani Cantil-Sakauye launched an initiative, called "Power of Democracy," to support civil discourse education for students, and to emphasize the importance of jury trials as a matter of civics.
In March 2017, Tani Cantil-Sakauye cautioned about the unintended consequences of arrests of undocumented immigrants by federal agents at California state courthouses.
Tani Cantil-Sakauye has stated her concern that victims of crime will avoid the police and testifying in trials if they fear arrest at the courthouse.
On September 28,2022, the Public Policy Institute of California announced that Tani Cantil-Sakauye would become its president and chief executive officer, effective January 1,2023.
Tani Cantil-Sakauye serves as a Neutral Mediator and Arbitrator with ADR Services, Inc.
In December 2018, Tani Cantil-Sakauye left the Republican Party and registered as a No Party Preference voter.
Tani Cantil-Sakauye cited the confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh and an increasing discomfort with the direction of the GOP as reasons.