Supreme Court Names New Ethics Code Committee Chair

The California Supreme Court today announced the appointment of Justice Marla J. Miller of the Court of Appeal, First Appellate District, Division Two (San Francisco) as the new chair of the Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the Code of Judicial Ethics.

The advisory committee evaluates and proposes amendments to the Canons of the California Code of Judicial Ethics.

In her appointment letter, California Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye noted Justice Miller would be the first woman to lead the ethics committee.

“The advisory committee has been essential in maintaining the code’s key role in protecting the impartiality, honesty, and integrity of the state’s judicial branch,” Cantil-Sakauye said.

Starting April 1, Justice Miller will replace Justice Richard D. Fybel, who chaired the committee since 2004 and will be retiring from the bench this month.

Justice Miller was elevated to the appellate bench in 2014, after serving as a San Francisco County Superior Court judge for more than 9 years. Justice Miller is currently a member of the Judicial Council’s Civil Jury Instructions Advisory Committee and the Supreme Court Committee on Judicial Ethics Opinions.