Charles A. Smiley

After Governor Gavin Newsom’s nomination, the Commission on Judicial Appointments confirmed Charles A. Smiley to the position of Associate Justice on February 14, 2025.

Before joining the First District Court of Appeal, Justice Smiley was a judicial officer on the Alameda County Superior Court for 17 years. He started in 2007 as a court commissioner and was appointed superior court judge by Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr., in 2012. During his work on that court, he served as its presiding judge, assistant presiding judge, and as a supervising judge of the juvenile courts and of the collaborative, treatment and diversion courts.

Justice Smiley has been appointed to statewide committees including the Judicial Council Advisory Committee on Collaborative Justice Courts where he also leads its subcommittee on Racial Justice, Equity and Inclusion as a co-chair. He also participated on the Power of Democracy Steering Committee, the Commission on the Future of the Courts, and as a faculty for judicial officer training on bias and ethics. Justice Smiley has taught trial advocacy skill courses at UC Law San Francisco and at Berkeley Law.

Justice Smiley began his legal career as an attorney in the Office of the Alameda County Public Defender. In addition to his role as a trial lawyer, he worked in the office’s appellate unit and supervised one of its branch offices.

Justice Smiley has received awards for his work from the Alameda County Bar Association, the California Association of Black Lawyers, the Charles Houston Bar Association, and the Tribal Justice Collaborative. He has also worked with numerous organizations and programs that support youth, teach civics, and encourage the pursuit of higher education.

Justice Smiley is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, and UC Law San Francisco.