FEATURE STORY
Maureen C. Onyeagbako is a Deputy Attorney General with the California Department of Justice and a staff editor of Sacramento Lawyer. She can be contacted at Maureen. Onyeagbako@doj.ca.gov.
Setting a Positive Tone for the Profession: Justice Jonathan Renner by Maureen C. Onyeagbako1
J
12
onathan Renner is giving me a headache. It is not because the newest justice on California’s Third District Court of Appeal is a difficult person. On the contrary, he is a gentleman and a professional. The problem is that no single “angle” for this profile appropriately describes him. So, for those who like quick bits, Justice Renner is amiable, ethical, collaborative, funny, and astute. For those who prefer to look under the hood or read beyond the book flap, continue on for more on what makes this new judge tick. Justice Renner reports that every day on the Court of Appeal is different and that the learning curve is long. Much of his first year has been spent staffing his chambers, delving into cases, and developing a system to manage assignments on one of the busiest appellate courts in the state. With each day, he feels humbled to have the responsibility to resolve matters that are frequently life changing for the litigants. Judging from the large stacks of briefing arranged neatly around his office, he has his work cut out for him, but there is no sign of nervousness or pressure. Although the stream of cases is
endless, Justice Renner enjoys having blocks of uninterrupted time to study cases carefully, conduct his own research, consult with staff attorneys, and process his thoughts through writing. Much of the discourse among the justices on the Court of Appeal takes place in writing by circulating draft opinions. Justice Renner points out that, unlike informal conversations, the writing
Justice Renner’s “attention to detail is unsurpassed.” process helps him thoroughly think through complex issues and evaluate whether he agrees with positions taken by his colleagues. This quieter, more academic setting stands in contrast to Justice Renner’s previous job as Legal Affairs Secretary to Governor Jerry Brown. That environment was fastpaced, on-call 24/7, and included a high volume of emails and constant interruptions. It was intense, but current Legal Affairs Secretary, Peter Krause, says that Renner was “unflappable” and able to make princi-
SACRAMENTO LAWYER |November/December | November/December 2015 2015 || www.sacbar.org www.sacbar.org
pled decisions even when facing questions from the governor, urgent deadlines, or an emerging crisis. Able to quickly learn and apply new areas of law, Renner worked on important issues involving election law, education, and corrections, among others. His opinion was frequently sought out and valued. Renner also regularly handled appellate issues by analyzing pleadings to determine if arguments were adequate and well-written, and collaborating with staff attorneys to decide what more could be done. Unfailingly kind and courteous, approachable, and able to diffuse tension with humor and wit, according to Krause, Renner left a great legacy and is a tough act to follow at the Governor’s Office. Renner also left his mark at the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) where he started as a deputy and left leading the Government Law Section statewide. He had a briefing-oriented practice handling writs and appeals, while also preparing himself and others for oral arguments in the very courtroom where he now sits on the bench. Chief Deputy Attorney General Nathan Barankin reflects that his former supervisor has a gift